Dear HIFA colleagues,
One of the key objectives of our discussion is to compare and contrast the different approaches to communicating health research, to help inform health researchers to achieve increased impact. We especially want to hear about the experience of health researchers.
1. What is your experience of communicating research to policymakers?
2. Which approaches have you used? (eg academic journals, policy briefs, interaction with policymakers, press releases, social media, television, radio...)
3. Can you share one example of *successful* communication to policymakers? What approach worked for you? How did you know it was successful?
4. Can you share an example of *failed* communication to policymakers? Perhaps an example where the relevant policymakers remained unaware of your research? Or an example where they ignored it or failed to use it in policy and implementation?
We have touched on:
Academic journals
Open access
Pre-prints
Blogs
Policy briefs
Social media
Mass media (TV, newspapers...)
Popular culture
Interaction with policymakers, funders, academia, other stakeholders
Engaging the public
Press releases
Storytelling
Framing the message clearly and concisely
We have noted the many factors to consider when planning the communication strategy:
Primary versus secondary research
Global versus local research
Stage in research cycle (before, during, after)
Operational level of intended change
Political and personality factors of policymakers
Looking forward to learn from your experience.
Best wishes, Neil
Joint Coordinator, HIFA Communicating health research https://www.hifa.org/projects/new-effective-communication-health-researc...
Let's build a future where every person has access to reliable healthcare information and is protected from misinformation - Join HIFA: www.hifa.org
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of the HIFA global health movement (Healthcare Information For All - www.hifa.org ), a global community with more than 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting on six global forums in four languages in collaboration with WHO. HIFA brings stakeholders together to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK based non-profit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Twitter: @hifa_org neil@hifa.org
