2017
Research Dissemination: Addressing the Media and Writing a Policy Brief
Description: Research is most valuable
when disseminated to the individuals and groups who can act on it. This
workshop will cover dissemination of research to the media and to
policy-makers. The first half of this workshop will consist of media training.
Speaking to the media has become an increasingly important yet challenging
component of disseminating research. Whether it's talking to the press over the
telephone, talking face to face with a journalist or being interviewed on radio
or television it is imperative that investigators provide a consistent and
clear message regarding their research findings and implications. This workshop
will introduce the essential skills, knowledge, and techniques required to give
confident and successful media interviews. The second half of this
workshop will guide investigators through the process of writing a policy brief
to be delivered to politicians and legislative staff. Policy-driven palliative
care research has the potential to make a significant impact yet translating
research into actionable policy documents is challenging. This workshop will
discuss the key components of a policy brief and strategies for their creation.
Participants will be asked in advance to bring an abstract of their current or
recently completed research and will be assisted in identifying the key message
and 2-3 take-home points key to successful dissemination.
Link to slides: Here
Qualitative Research Methods
Description: This workshop will begin by
describing the conceptual basis for using hierarchical modeling in palliative
care research. Hierarchical linear modeling (or “multilevel analysis”) allows
variance in outcome variables to be analyzed at multiple hierarchical levels.
For example, data are often considered as patients nested within physicians
nested within hospitals. Hierarchical modeling allows one to estimate the
variance in an outcome at the patient, physician and hospital levels. Using
examples with real data, the presenters in this workshop will demonstrate the
importance of accounting for variation at different "levels" of
analysis and will provide an overview of how to interpret results of a
hierarchical model.
Link to slides: Here
Mixed Methods Research
Description: Mixed method research has become an essential tool for studying
the complex issues involved in palliative care practice and policy. This
workshop will describe ways to integrate qualitative and quantitative research
methods and data. It will cover commonly used qualitative and quantitative data
collection methods and procedures, theory, design, analysis, and interpretation
of results. The presenters in the workshop will also describe the ways in which
mixed methods research can inform palliative care intervention development and
implementation. Using data from recent studies, workshop leaders will
demonstrate how they have used mixed methods to inform specific interventions.
At the end of this workshop participants will have a more in-depth
understanding of mixed methods, its distinction from pure qualitative or
quantitative methodology, and a practical understanding of the application of
these methods to palliative care research.
Link to slides: Here