Publishing your work is necessary but not sufficient for wider research impact Libby Kalucy Editor in Chief, Australian Journal of Primary Health 9 August

Publishing your work is necessary but not sufficient for

wider research impact

Libby Kalucy

Editor in Chief, Australian Journal of Primary Health

9 August 2011

outline

1 Publishing in peer reviewed journals– benefits and costs – fears and obstacles– motivating yourself

2 The impact of your research – on you and your career– your institution/organisation– wider society

NHMRC strategic plan 2007-2009

NHMRC: The Virtuous Cycle



Research only matters if it is disseminated



1 Why publish?

Track record – career progression Enduring record of your research Future funding Add to body of knowledge Credibility of research Avoid duplication

Barriers

Time Confidence Skills Putting it off Fear of rejection Costs of online publishing

Tips

Be organised – perspiration plus inspiration Work together and encourage each other Set deadlines Form writing groups Ask for help Read your work aloud Attend staff development to learn to write well Seek opportunities to review articles

Getting published

Agree on the order of authors and their roles Identify the most suitable journal for your work

before you start Follow the instructions to authors Seek internal review of your work from your

colleagues before you submit it to the journal Very few papers are accepted without changes Persist in seeking publication making use of the

reviewers’ comments

Your views?

2 Why does impact matter?

There is an increasing expectation from the Australian community for health and medical research to deliver improvements in health.

NHMRC Strategic plan 2010-2012: research is changing

All Australians benefit from the outcomes of health and medical research, particularly when that research is translated into improved primary and hospital care, aged care, or better preventative health strategies.

NHMRC Strategic plan 2010-2012: Message from Minister Nicola Roxon

Vital Research for a Vital Australia: Personal Stories, October 2010

Research Australia is proud to present Vital Health: personal stories. This new publication presents a range of research and members together to demonstrate the wonderful impact that can be made on people’s lives.

This publication brings together government policy initiatives, clinical guidelines, breakthroughs in practice and patient stories. These cases provide a definitive link between research and its impact in everyday life.

We aim to use these cases to demonstrate to policy makers, politicians and funders that research can make a difference in the real world, rather than being a conceptual or theoretical activity, it can really change lives.



Knowledge production Research transfer Research targeting, capacity building Informing policy and product development Health and health sector benefits Broader economic benefits

Research impacts are diverse

Adapted from Buxton and Hanney Payback Framework

PHC RIS studied 17 primary health care research projects funded by NHMRC, GPEP, PHCRED

Asked Chief Investigators about pathways by which research had impact on policy and practice

Looked at expected and achieved impactsResearch Impact Study by PHC RIS: Exploring the impact of

primary health care research Final Report Stage 2 Primary Health Care Research Impact project Kalucy E, Jackson Bowers E, McIntyre E, Hordacre

AL, Reed R. 2009

Research Impact study

Knowledge production Research transfer Research targeting, capacity building Informing policy and product development Health and health sector benefits Broader economic benefits

Number of impacts and researcher influence decreases, attribution challenges increase

Adapted from Buxton and Hanney Payback Framework

Res

earc

her

influ

ence

Num

ber

of im

pact

s

Research had localised impact on those taking part…….

Research team

‘Industry’ partners

Research participants

“Many of the participating general practitioners informed us that they will include combined screening in their clinical practice.” (Screening for Chlamydia)

“Already some of the GPs that I interviewed have altered their clinical practice to start facilitating disclosure of sexual orientation.” (Attitudes to Lesbians)

“GPs in the study have fed back that they have changed practice in how they offer and discuss prenatal testing with their patients and would use the [decision aid] if it were available.” (Prenatal Screening)

Research Impact Study by PHC RIS: Exploring the impact of primary health care research Final Report Stage 2 Primary Health Care Research Impact project Kalucy E, Jackson Bowers E, McIntyre E,

Hordacre AL, Reed R. 2009

…..but dissemination was needed for wider impact

communitiespractitione

rsthe publicpolicy advisors

regulatory bodiesresearchershealth

industry

Research team

useful usable knowledgetailored specific methods decision

makers

See PHC RIS infobyte on Dissemination www.phcris.org.au

What is useful information?

O’Shaughnessy’s equation on usefulness of medical information

Usefulness = relevance X validity

effort

The best source of information provides highly relevant and valid information which can be obtained with minimum effort.

(Shaughnessy et al J. Fam Practice 1994; 39:489-500)

What worked…examples

Collaborative approach to research

Research Advisory Committee Feedback to participants Researcher on policy/practice

committees

Kalucy et al 2009

Planning for impact: examples

The Audit and best practice in chronic disease (ABCD) project

“specifically sought to influence educational curricula and training programs as a strategy to strengthen capacity in use of CQI concepts.

This was done through engagement of people with responsibility for such programs in the research.”

What worked…examples…cont.

Researchers / teachers / practitioners Final report – accessible & active distribution Launch of product/tool/report Conference presentations – to practitioners Presentations to practitioners, policy makers,

target population

Kalucy et al 2009

strong collaborative links involvement on committees involvement in decision making forums personal relationships involvement of end users in the research

processes alignment with Government priorities and

dominant ideas

Impacts were achieved through

Key points

Work together with users Spread research findings beyond those

directly involved in the research Communicate in ways to suit different

audiences Plan for the impact you want to achieve in

the short and long term Add to the enduring knowledge base

Lessons from dissemination in last 20 years

Decision-makers need syntheses of knowledge with actionable messages around a specific issue, rather than individual studies.

The scholarly journal article is not an appropriate format for research dissemination to decision-makers– Far greater benefit is achieved through more

readily accessible electronic, paper and (increasingly) personal presentation of results to influential people in the target audience/s.

Resources on publishing, dissemination and impact

http://www.journalprep.com/101-tips.phpAustralian Journal of Primary Health

http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/261.htm www.phcris.org.au http://www.phcris.org.au/knowledge_exchange/

index.php http://www.mcmasterhealthforum.org/index.php http://www.healthsystemsevidence.org/

Questions?

[email protected]

Documents

Publishing your work is necessary but not sufficient for wider research impact Libby Kalucy Editor in Chief, Australian Journal of Primary Health 9 August