Abstract
Objectives
We describe the knowledge translation strategies in two projects and share lessons learned about knowledge sharing and uptake.
Methods
To generate findings for dissemination: (1) the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (RCI) project relied on a multiple case study design to document barriers and facilitators to implementing a community-led prevention strategy targeting Ebola virus disease; and (2) the Tunisia project used several designs to assess a mental health training’s effectiveness, and a case study design to explore contextual factors that may influence anticipated outcomes.
Results
To share findings with participants, the RCI project relied on workshops and a pamphlet, and the Tunisia project relied on a structured half-day dissemination workshop and research summary. Facilitators that may have encouraged sharing and using findings include involving champions in dissemination activities, ongoing collaboration, and developing/implementing context-specific knowledge sharing strategies. Barriers include omitting to assess strategies, limited consideration of a wider audience, and the exclusion of a knowledge translation training component.
Conclusions
Our experiences might be useful to contexts involved in global and public health research that wish to address the “know-do gap.”
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Acknowledgements
Researchers involved in the Tunisia project would like to thank all study participants for their time and would like to acknowledge: (1) the former WHO Representative in Tunisia, and the former Health System Advisors at the WHO office in Tunisia for their support; (2) trainer-psychiatrists and PCPs in charge of continuing medical education in the Greater Tunis area of Tunisia for their dedication to the project; and (3) Réseau de recherche en santé des populations (RRSPQ) for providing funding to support the dissemination session. Researchers involved in the RCI project would like to thank all participants for their time and would like to acknowledge: (1) RCI study team members and IRC employees in the cities of Man and Abidjan for their continuous support; and (2) community mobilization officers who facilitated the organization of consensus workshops. JS and LG wish to thank Heather Hickey and Matthew Rettino for their editing services.
Funding
The dissemination session to share findings in Tunisia was supported by funding provided by Regroupement Stratégique en Santé Mondiale du Réseau de recherche en santé des populations du Québec (RRSPQ). All dissemination activities in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire were funded by the International Rescue Committee, using funding from ECHO and USAID.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
Research approval for the Tunisia project was obtained from Université de Montréal (Québec, Canada; #15-117-CERES-D) and Hôpital Razi (Manouba, Tunisia). For the RCI project, approval by the National Committee of Ethics and Research of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire was obtained on August 25, 2015 (No. 050/MSLS/CNER-dkn). The Institutional Review Board of the International Rescue Committee also approved the research protocol (No. H1.00.003) on September 9, 2015 (IRB# 00009752 FWA#: 00022773).
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Spagnolo, J., Gautier, L., Champagne, F. et al. Reflecting on knowledge translation strategies from global health research projects in Tunisia and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. Int J Public Health 65, 1559–1570 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-020-01502-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-020-01502-3