From Practice to Publication: The Promise of Writing Workshops.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Academic Publishing

Background:

• Public health practitioners face challenges in publishing peer-reviewed literature.
• Lack of time, support, skills, and self-efficacy hinders manuscript submission.
• This exclusion creates literature gaps and delays evidence-based practice advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe writing workshops designed for public health practitioners.
• To address barriers preventing practitioners from sharing experience-based evidence.
• To support manuscript submission for a special issue on chronic disease reduction.

Main Methods:

• Offered introductory writing webinars to all recipients.
• Conducted an 8- to 9-week virtual writing intensive for selected teams.
• Provided extensive coaching and curriculum developed by public health education staff and consultants.

Main Results:

• The workshops targeted practitioners funded by the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Two cohorts participated in the intensive writing workshop.
• The program focused on preparing manuscripts for a specific journal supplement.

Conclusions:

• Writing workshops can equip public health practitioners with necessary skills for publication.
• Such initiatives can help bridge literature gaps and promote evidence-based practice.
• Supportive programs are crucial for disseminating public health expertise.