Development and evaluation of a tool (named Evidence Brief) to communicate allied health research translation

An allied health research capacity building initiative at a regional Australian public health service has increased research activity significantly. To demonstrate the value of allied health research activity a short one-page narrative was developed to communicate the impact of allied health research. This paper evaluates the use of the narrative at this healthcare organisation.

A multiple case study design was used for the evaluation. Three cases written as narratives were chosen and one comparison case without a narrative. The cases were investigated via organisational document review, policies, or guidelines, and published journal articles, plus semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant stakeholders. Analysis was conducted in four stages: case context and description, within-case analysis, cross-case analysis and interpretation and evaluation using thematic analysis.

Document analysis revealed the rationale and evidence for the practice change, the instigator of change and enablers. Cross-case analysis identified commonalities such as an expanded scope of practice, clinician-led change, and the inclusion of salient stakeholders to ensure that translation occurred. Differences included the timing of funding and the reach of change.

The one-page narrative (named Evidence Brief) effectively describes a change in clinical practice because of allied health research or quality improvement projects. Evidence Briefs have potential to act as a research measure with each Evidence Brief acting as a unit of change so that over time, accumulated Evidence Briefs may be used to measure clinical practice change resulting from research. Future research by this team will obtain feedback from management to determine the value of Evidence Briefs as a communication tool and to evaluate the extended use of them across other disciplines and healthcare organisations.