66. Can Communities of Practice Assist the Implementation of Research Across the Academic Health Sciences Network?

Stevenson, Kay; Duffy, Helen; Somerville, Simon; Cooper, Vince; Hughes, Rhian; Dziedzic, Krysia

Abstract

Background: The Arthritis Research UK funded STaRT Back trial identified that stratified care is a clinically and cost effective method of managing low back pain. Whilst there has been international interest in the study, local implementation within the Academic Health Sciences Network (AHSN) has been variable. A Communities of Practice (COP) methodology was utilized to explore this issue within a local heath economy. A COP is a process of shared learning that occurs when groups of people with common objectives interact and work together. The aim of the COP was to identify barriers and enablers for local implementation of research findings.

Methods: Key stakeholders (n = 85) from the North West Midlands and representing general practice, physiotherapy, commissioners, patient groups, rheumatology and pain management were identified. They were invited to participate in a COP event with an open discussion to identify the key barriers and enablers for integrating the STaRT Back findings into daily practice. Firstly, the clinical applicability of the trial results was presented. Secondly, stakeholders were divided into two groups, one of medical practitioners (Group 1), the other of the remaining stakeholders (Group 2). Facilitated discussions: explored barriers, enablers and priorities for implementation. Finally each group was asked to identify three important implementation messages.

Results: Of 85 stakeholders, 31 (36%) attended the open discussion: general practitioners (n = 10), patients (n = 5), clinical managers (n = 3), physiotherapists (n = 3), commissioners (n = 2), rheumatologists (n = 2), research managers (n = 2), researchers (n = 2), anaesthetist (n = 1), physiotherapy educator (n = 1). Group 1 identified barriers such as lack of belief in screening tools, GP fatigue with guidance and concerns over restricting the clinical freedom culture among GPs. Enablers included receiving feedback on the clinical outcomes from using the tool, quality indicators for back pain and embedding the tool electronically in computer systems (Table 1). Group 2 identified barriers such as organizational structures, lack of training funds and lack of understanding of the commissioning processes. Enablers included use of social media, cascading information through a buddy system or research facilitators, better communication between research and clinicians (and utilizing educational events) and provision of tools that make it easier for clinicians to adopt new systems (Table 1).

Citation

Stevenson, K., Duffy, H., Somerville, S., Cooper, V., Hughes, R., & Dziedzic, K. 66. Can Communities of Practice Assist the Implementation of Research Across the Academic Health Sciences Network?

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Online Publication Date: Apr 3, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Deposit Date: Oct 16, 2023
• Journal: Rheumatology
• Print ISSN: 1462-0324
• Electronic ISSN: 1462-0332
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 53
• Issue: suppl_1
• Pages: i80-i80
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keu099.006
• Keywords: Pharmacology (medical); Rheumatology
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/603209