Disseminating Research

Effective dissemination is simply about getting the findings of your research to the people who can make use of them, to maximize the benefit of the research without delay.¹

Once the decision is made to disseminate the research, the author(s) need to identify a target audience for the content. There are many ways to share information, therefore a strategic approach should be implemented to encourage the greatest reach possible. Below, one can find numerous options for research dissemination. These options can be used in parallel with one another based on the planned target audience (Rural Health).²

Opportunities to disseminate research include but are not limited to:

• Traditional Medical Journals
• Poster Presentations (e.g., conferences or academia)
• Guest Lecture
• Grand Rounds
• Medical Blog
• Social Media Platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter)
• Organization/Foundation website

Traditional Medical Journals

Getting a research project published in a journal holds benefits for both the researcher and the journal itself. It is through publication that the research, including its scientific and practical contributions, is disseminated to others in a particular field.³Additionally, journal publications are important because they focus on pressing clinical problems (locally, nationally, and internally), peer communication, and fostering critical reading among healthcare workers.⁴

Poster Presentations (International, National, Local)

A poster presentation is a great way to provide a visual representation of one's research through text, charts, graphs, and other aids. This allows viewers to interact with the researcher and ask questions about the study design and other decisions that impact the implementation and outcomes of the study.⁵

Guest Lecture (University or College)

Similar to a poster presentation, a researcher can interact directly with his or her audience in real-time. Through visual aids (as applicable), the researcher presents the background and supporting literature on the specific topic area, methods and design of the study, outcomes and results, and the conclusions based on the overall findings. This is a great example of a targeted approach on behalf of a researcher to reach those with clear interests in the research.

Grand Rounds (Hospital)

Grand rounds provides a similar atmosphere to a guest lecture. However, this type of dissemination typically reaches a larger and broader audience compared to a lecture. Grand rounds provide a hospital-wide educational opportunity to anyone interested in listening to the presentation.

Medical Blog

A medical blog is typically more informal than research found in a medical journal, or a poster given it may not have gone through a rigorous peer-review process. The benefits of this type of dissemination is speed and efficiency. Because it may not go through a review, it can be viewable much sooner than a medical journal and viewed by virtually any person who comes across the webpage.

Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter allow for research to be disseminated as quickly as possible. Although one of the quickest ways to share new information, it becomes more difficult to target a specific audience given the large number of users across the platforms.

Organization and Foundation websites

Organization and Foundation websites allow the researcher to disseminate findings based on a clear topic area, somewhat similar to a medical journal. Oftentimes the audience of interest here may be potential donors, patients, and those with political agendas. Depending on the size of the organization or foundation, the reach may be specific to local or national needs.

Research is of no use if it does not reach its intended audience.¹Utilizing more than one dissemination strategy and thinking outside of the box is a great strategy to ensure meaningful research is disseminated in a timely manner and is visible to its target readers and viewers.

Identify your audience(s) so that you know who you will need to influence to maximize the uptake of your research e.g., commissioners, patients, clinicians, and charities. Think who might benefit from using your findings. Understand how and where your audience looks for/receives information. Gain an insight into what motivates your audience and the barriers they may face.

References

1. National Institute for Health and Care Research (2019). How to disseminate your research. Retrieved from:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/how-to-disseminate-your-research/19951
2. Rural Health Information Hub (2011). Retrieved from: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/rural-toolkit/6/dissemination-methods
3. Stellenbosch Business School (2018). Why publication in an academic journal matters. Retrieved from: https://www.usb.ac.za/usb_food_for_thought/why-publication-in-an-academic-journal-matters/
4. Rivas-Ruiz R. La importancia de las revistas médicas nacionales en un mundo global [The importance of national medical journals in a global world]. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2019 Dec 30;57(6):334-336. Spanish. PMID: 33001606.
5. Michigan State University (2023). Poster presentation. Retreived from: https://urca.msu.edu/posters

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Dr. Jenna Brager, PhD, RN, MS, is the Vice President of Drug Development at MyMD Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining MyMD, Dr. Brager served as the Director of Clinical Research for LifeBridge Health and was a clinical investigator at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Brager received her B.S. in Nursing from the University of North Florida, graduating cum laude and received her Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Dr. Brager welcomes comments, questions, and requests for future blog topics. Please email [email protected].

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