Sharing Health Literacy Research
Effective dissemination is necessary for translating research findings into practice.
Advances in prevention, public health, and health care are, in part, limited by a failure to translate research findings into practice. Original research may take decades to become routine clinical practice or habits for large segments of the public. Increasing the amount of health literacy research is not enough—especially if the research is not used to create evidence-based interventions that are widely disseminated.
The disciplines of communication and social marketing, as well as translational research, could contribute significantly to more effective dissemination. The strategies and resources below will help achieve the goal of translating research to practice more effectively and disseminating it more quickly.
- Highlights of AHRQ’s Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Dissemination Investmentsexternal icon. (HHS Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality 2019)
- NIH Program Announcement for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01)external icon (NIH 2019)
- Best Practices in Public Reporting No. 3: How to Maximize Public Awareness and Use of Comparative Quality Reports Through Effective Promotion and Dissemination Strategiesexternal icon. (HHS Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality 2017)
- AHRQ Dissemination Planning Toolexternal icon (HHS Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality 2014)
- Dissemination and Implementation Models in Health Research and Practiceexternal icon (NIH National Cancer Institute 2011)
- Applying the RE-AIM Framework. How well does research translate into practice?external icon (RE-AIM)
For more information about dissemination, please review the complete text of Goal 7 pdf icon[667 KB, 73 pages]external icon in the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy.