142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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From Content to Collaboration: How NCI Engages Researchers and Practitioners to Implement Evidence-based Cancer Control Policies and Programs through a Virtual Community of Practice

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Margaret Farrell, MPH RD , Implementation Science Team; Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Sarah Bruce Bernal, MA , Implementation Science Team; Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Cynthia A. Vinson, PhD, MPA , Implementation Science Team, National Cancer Institute, Behtesda, MD
How can communities of practice (CoPs) help further the practical application of cancer control research? In 2011, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) launched an online CoP, Research to Reality (R2R). R2R infuses evidence-based strategies into communities by engaging researchers and practitioners in a joint approach to research dissemination.  While CoPs are a promising approach, many fail within the first three years because of lack of engagement. Central to the work of R2R therefore is a theory-driven, multi-level approach to convene its community and stimulate engagement. From its outset, R2R sought to:
  1. create an online CoP for cancer control practitioners and researchers;
  2. engage community members at all levels of experience in an ongoing dialogue around moving research into practice (Interaction);
  3. build capacity and help foster collaborations by highlighting successful evidence-based interventions and programs (Content); and
  4. offer dynamic communication, learning, and mentorship opportunities (Activity).

In order to measure community growth and engagement, NCI measures data across these three program domains. NCI uses web analytics, usability testing and content analyses to manage and evaluate R2R.  As of February 2014, over 1800 are registered R2R members. R2R hosts more than 15,500 page views and 5,000 site visits on an average month. While these indicators are important, what differentiates R2R from static websites is the extent to which R2R engages its community in a collaborative effort to implement evidence-based interventions. This presentation describes the process of convening this online community and quantifies NCI’s experiences to date in engaging the community.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Communication and informatics
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Program planning
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Explain how a virtual community of practice can enhance translation of evidence-based program and policies into practice

Keyword(s): Cancer, Practice-Based Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I provide programmatic leadership of NCI's Research to Reality (http://researchtoreality.cancer.gov) online community of practice for cancer control researchers and practitioners.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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