Bridging the gap: Community insights on effectively sharing research findings with the public

Funders increasingly emphasize the ethical imperative to return research results, yet researchers often lack training and clear strategies for effectively sharing findings with lay audiences. While publishing in academic journals is standard practice for dissemination, little guidance exists on translating findings for communities, particularly in rural areas. This qualitative community-guided pilot project aimed to explore and strengthen strategies for sharing study results in accessible ways.

The Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute conducted six semi-structured focus groups in Fall 2023 with geographically dispersed Pennsylvanians. Focus groups introduced participants with and without prior research experience to evidence-based and novel dissemination methods - such as lay summaries and data walks - to gather feedback on preferences and experiences. Data were coded and analyzed using MAXQDA, achieving strong interrater reliability (kappa > 0.70). Themes were developed inductively.

Focus group participants (N = 45) were predominantly women (N = 39, mean age = 56); 10% identified as Black/African American. Geographically, 49% were rural, 44% suburban, and 7% urban. Major themes included lack of effective communication in the research process, poor representation, and limited access to results. Most participants had never received study findings. Participants preferred receiving easy-to-understand summaries shared by individuals with established community relationships. They also found data walks, where researchers bring key findings printed on posters to community events, to be especially engaging and valuable.

Community-informed dissemination approaches can increase research transparency, engagement, and results translation in communities, particularly in rural areas where accessibility is limited.