Chapter 10: Reporting & Dissemination

Overview of Contents

• Different research users and ways to exchange knowledge
  Turning research findings into messages for research users
  How to write research messages
  Example : Point-of-care testing for diabetes
  Questions to guide dissemination/knowledge exchange
  Case story – Planning and writing for dissemination

• Reporting to community and Indigenous organisations
  Reporting throughout the project
  Reporting at the end of the project
  Structure of a community report
  Case story – Community-directed knowledge exchange
  Case Story – Sharing evidence and planning change through storytelling
  Using interactive technology

• Reporting to policy makers and service managers
  A policy brief
  Tips for writing a policy brief

• Disseminating research to health practitioners and the research community
  Practical, ready-to-use information
  Conference presentations
  Case story – Creating a poster to share research information
  Academic thesis writing
  Case story – One thesis for two audiences
  Writing a journal article
  Case story – Writing an article for a peer-reviewed journal
  Case story – Working on the art of writing

• Reporting to the general public
  Blogging
  Using the media
  Case story – Disseminating research through the media
  Using images, artwork, music and digital media
  Tips for researchers using images, artwork, music and digital media

• Key messages for researchers

Excerpt from Chapter 10

This chapter looks at different ways to report and disseminate research findings in Indigenous health research.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) invested time and effort in developing research processes and products appropriate to the Indigenous health research environment. The Lowitja Institute, which now incorporates the CRCAH’s successor The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (CRCATSIH), aims to produce the knowledge, tools and resources to use research, so that health interventions are embedded within health systems and services. This puts even more emphasis on reporting and disseminating research findings in real and practical ways that are of use to those working to improve Indigenous health.

The chapter describes the type of knowledge sharing that has been found to work best for different user groups. It offers practical tips for producing different knowledge exchange products. And it emphasises how much easier you will find it to plan processes and produce products that reach your audience if you have developed relationships with research user groups during the life of the project.

To read the full chapter, purchase a copy of Researching Indigenous Health: A Practical Guide for Researchers.