The National Palliative Care Research Center

Curing suffering through palliative care research.

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