How do advisory groups contribute to healthy public policy research?
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
How do advisory groups contribute to healthy public policy research? Helen van Eyk1 • Sharon Friel2 • Peter Sainsbury3 • Tessa Boyd-Caine4 • Patrick Harris5 Colin MacDougall1 • Toni Delany-Crowe1 • Connie Musolino1 • Fran Baum1
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Received: 9 April 2020 / Revised: 25 September 2020 / Accepted: 3 October 2020 Ó Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) 2020
Abstract Objectives This paper reflects on experiences of Australian public health researchers and members of research policy advisory groups (PAGs) in working with PAGs. It considers their benefits and challenges for building researcher and policy actor collaboration and ensuring policy relevance of research. Methods Four research projects conducted between 2015 and 2020 were selected for analysis. 68 PAG members from Australian federal, state and local governments, NGOs and academics participated in providing feedback. Thematic analysis of participant feedback and researchers’ critical reflections on the effectiveness and capacity of PAGs to support research translation was undertaken. Results PAGs benefit the research process and can facilitate knowledge translation. PAG membership changes, differing researcher and policy actor agendas, and researchers’ need to balance policy relevance and research independence are challenges when working with PAGs. Strategies to improve the function of health policy research PAGs are identified. Conclusions The paper suggests a broader adapted approach for gaining the benefits and addressing the challenges of working with PAGs. It opens theoretical and practical discussion of PAGs’ role and how they can increase research translation into policy. Keywords Research translation Research utilisation Healthy public policy research Research policy advisory groups Researcher policymaker collaboration
Introduction Research funding bodies increasingly require researchers to incorporate research translation strategies into grant applications. Research policy advisory groups (PAGs) are one approach frequently used in health policy research to
improve research translation and build collaborative relationships between researchers and other policy actors. PAGs advise on how to engage with policy actors, how to ensure the policy relevance of research findings and increase the chances of research informing policy. Other strategies, such as developing policy briefs and holding policy-relevant research forums, are also used. Participation in PAGs by policy actors is voluntary, supporting member buy-in.
& Helen van Eyk [email protected]
Toni Delany-Crowe [email protected]
Sharon Friel [email protected]
Connie Musolino [email protected]
Peter Sainsbury [email protected]
Fran Baum [email protected]
Tessa Boyd-Caine [email protected]
Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Patrick Harris [email protected] Colin MacDougall colin.macdougall@flinders.
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