Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11(9), 8689-8708; doi:10.3390/ijerph110908689
Creating an Interest in Research and Development as a Means of Reducing the Gap between Theory and Practice in Primary Care: An Interventional Study Based on Strategic Communication
1
Department of Research and Development, Halland Hospital Halmstad, Region Halland, SE-301 80 Halmstad, Sweden
2
Department of Primary Health Care, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Received: 28 February 2014 / Revised: 6 August 2014 / Accepted: 20 August 2014 / Published: 26 August 2014
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Behavior and Public Health)
Abstract
Today, healthcare professionals are faced with the challenge of implementing research results in an optimal way. It is therefore important to create a climate that is conducive to research and development (R&D). For this reason, new strategies are required to enhance healthcare professionals’ interest in innovative thinking and R&D. Strategic communication with roots in sociology, psychology and political science was employed as a means of achieving long-term behavioural change. The aim of this study was to describe, follow up and evaluate a primary care intervention based on strategic communication intended to increase healthcare professionals’ interest in R&D over time. An interventional cohort study comprising all staff members (N = 1276) in a Swedish primary care area was initiated in 1997 and continued for 12 years. The intention to engage in R&D was measured on two occasions; at 7 and 12 years. Both descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were employed. The results demonstrated that the positive attitude to R&D increased over time, representing a first step towards new thinking and willingness to change work practices for the benefit of the patient. Strategic communication has not been previously employed as a scientific tool to create a long-term interest in R&D within primary care. View Full-TextKeywords:
attitude; behaviour change; communication; dissemination; implementation; intervention; primary care staff; R&D interest; research capacity building (RCB); staff cohort
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0).
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MDPI and ACS Style
Morténius, H. Creating an Interest in Research and Development as a Means of Reducing the Gap between Theory and Practice in Primary Care: An Interventional Study Based on Strategic Communication. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 8689-8708.
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