Increasing health research literacy through outreach and networking: Why translational research should matter to communities

Abstract

Background: Increasingly clinical and health research awareness is a priority for health and medical research communities. Translational research, including the prevention and treatment of conditions, relies upon proper funding as well as public participation in research studies. This requires executing more effective communication strategies to care for recipients and the community at large – providing the downstream benefit to improved public health and patient care. Without new and improved approaches, recruiting research volunteers will remain a significant challenge for clinical research teams, particularly as limited funding necessitates smaller budgets and shorter timelines to engage participants. Objective: This community-based project partnered the complementary strengths of a public library (the Library) located in the same city as an academic research centre (the University): The University’s research infrastructure and the Library’s community and information delivery expertise combined to impact awareness of clinical research in the local population. Methods: This project utilised a multi-method approach to assess interest in health research, to deliver relevant information on community-relevant health topics and to increase awareness of health research in general. It was designed with the community to identify a sustainable, affordable model to deliver health information and illuminate the role of research in the process. Results: The project demonstrated a successful community-based model, utilising Health Research Forums and online resources to increase the connection between health research information and health research participation opportunities. Conclusion: By linking researchers with community members, providing related resources to augment linkage between health information and research, the project demonstrated an increased awareness regarding opportunities that exist for community participation in research through a sustainable model.