Strategies for Implementing Research in Practice and Policy in CKD: A Workshop Report

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Implementation Science
• Patient and Caregiver Engagement

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease research translation into practice and policy is often delayed and inconsistent.
• A workshop convened patients, caregivers, and health professionals to identify implementation strategies.
• Perspectives from patients, caregivers, and health professionals were central to the study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify strategies for strengthening the implementation of research findings into practice and policy for chronic kidney disease.
• To explore patient, caregiver, and health professional perspectives on research implementation.
• To enhance the translation of evidence into actionable clinical and policy changes.

Main Methods:

• A workshop involving patients (n=18), caregivers (n=9), and health professionals (n=102) from Australia and New Zealand.
• Thirteen simultaneous online and in-person breakout groups discussed implementation strategies.
• Thematic analysis of workshop transcripts was conducted.

Main Results:

• Co-production for credibility: Genuine patient/caregiver involvement in governance and priority-setting enhances research legitimacy and trust.
• Diversity and equity for transferability: Culturally tailored, community-grounded involvement with underrepresented groups ensures relevance and generalizability.
• Accessible and actionable integration: Articulating research into practical, accessible formats (e.g., plain-language summaries) facilitates translation into action.

Conclusions:

• Embedding co-production, diversity, equity, and accessible integration strategies can strengthen research translation.
• Improved translation of research evidence into practice and policy is expected to enhance care for individuals with kidney disease.
• These strategies aim to foster lasting partnerships and improve outcomes for kidney disease patients.