Peas in a Pod: The Process of Mutual Learning in Knowledge Exchange on Health Promotion Interventions Research

Area of Science:

• Health Promotion Research
• Knowledge Exchange (KE)
• Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships (RPP)

Background:

• Knowledge exchange (KE) in health promotion research fosters mutual learning between researchers and knowledge users.
• Researcher-practitioner partnerships (RPP) aim to cultivate mutually beneficial research across disciplines and sectors.
• While RPPs improve intervention success and sustainability, the mechanisms of mutual learning remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze two case examples of mutual learning in health promotion RPPs.
• To understand how practitioners and researchers experience mutual learning in collaborative research.
• To identify key elements facilitating mutual learning in health promotion interventions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of two case studies involving mutual learning in health promotion RPPs.
• Virtual practice exchange event ('Peas in a Pod') with researchers and practitioners in retail food environments.
• Small group discussions analyzed thematically to explore mutual learning in retail food environment research.

Main Results:

• Mutual learning involved developing partnerships with both short-term and long-term perspectives.
• Successful collaboration required negotiation and finding common ground between partners.
• Leveraging policies and strategies was crucial for supporting intervention implementation.
• Knowledge exchange effectively bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical action.

Conclusions:

• Mutual learning within RPPs significantly influences research design and implementation.
• Knowledge exchange generated through intervention research can lead to policy and partnership changes.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the intersection of knowledge exchange and policy development.
• Mutual learning can build trust and create opportunities for collaboration with hesitant stakeholders.