Background
Methods
Stakeholder | Gender | Number of meetings attended |
---|---|---|
Arthritis Care & Lay member | Female | 3 |
Arthritis Care & Lay member | Male | 3 |
Beth Johnson Foundation (older person's role) | Female | 1 |
General Practitioner | Male | 3 |
Health Promotion (general) | Female | 3 |
Health Promotion (activity and older people) | Female | 2 |
Leisure Centre (Fitness Instructor) | Male | 1 |
Community Physiotherapist | Female | 3 |
Researcher | Female | 3 |
Researcher | Female | 3 |
Researcher | Female | 1 |
Social Services (Older people) | Female | 1 |
Weight watchers coordinator | Female | 2 |
Results and discussion
Task | Key characteristics required |
---|---|
1. Identify a comprehensive list of potential members from a wide range of agencies. Use local knowledge, colleagues, internet search, snowballing through previous research participants | Patience and persistence to identify people and their correct names and addresses |
2. Create a database of names and addresses of potential members | Knowledge of computers |
3. Write to potential members explaining the study | Jargon free letter and information sheet |
4. Follow up phone call to arrange meeting | Persistence, patience, friendly and approachable nature, enthusiasm |
5. Attend a first contact meeting in participants place of work/home to introduce yourself and the project. | Friendly and approachable nature, enthusiasm |
6. Write to potential members to establish the best time and date for the meeting. Offer a choice for participants well in advance. Enclose slip and return envelope for people to respond. Request items for the agenda | Organisational and communications skills, persistence and patience |
7. Confirm the most convenient date for the meeting with all members (by email, phone, letter) | Organisational and communication skills |
8. Mail documentation (agenda and related papers) to members well in advance of the meeting | Organisational and communication skills |
9. Maintain contact prior to the meeting | Communication skills |
10. Preparation for first meeting: book venue, order refreshments, prepare visual aids, plan group work and activities, prepare handouts, arrange transport. | Organisational and communication skills |
11. Meeting Day. Build up a rapport between members and keep presentations to a minimum. Encourage participation from all members. Discuss expectations (and set up evaluation if required). | Friendly and approachable nature, enthusiasm, organisational, communication and facilitation skills. Knowledge of evaluation techniques. |
12. Write to members thanking them for their involvement. Include notes of the meeting and agreed action points. Request topics for the next agenda. | Communication skills |
13. Commence organisation of next meeting e.g. return to point 6. | Organisational and communications skills, persistence and patience |
14. Evaluate participation and outcomes (if required) | Knowledge of evaluation techniques. |
1. Involvement in research design
Pilot interviews
2. Developing dissemination strategies
-
Share results with different groups (e.g. Arthritis Care).
-
Use the media. Hard-hitting messages are required.
-
Disseminate using existing outlets e.g. Information section at libraries/post offices etc.
-
Education to children and adults, particularly if the focus is primary prevention.
-
Use integrated messages. Use other health promotion activities to integrate messages on e.g. benefits of weight loss for diabetes, CHD and knee OA.
-
Target sports e.g. kids football. This will help with reducing risk factor like knee injury.
-
Targeting occupation related settings:
-
◦ Workplace initiatives
-
◦ Work group sessions
-
◦ Health and safety initiatives
-
3. Identifying research priorities
Topic | Research ideas |
---|---|
Changing uncertainty and expectations | - How can we deal with the uncertainty about what can be done for knee pain (patients and professionals)? - How can we overcome the problems of poor expectations in relation to knee pain in society? - How to shift societal expectations? |
Defining effective interventions | - How to build issues into daily life. This needs studies to make initiatives more appropriate to people - Testing multi-agency working - Long term research required - Why aren't GPs or other health care professionals giving lifestyle advice? |
Evaluate public health interventions | - Evaluate the results of media and dissemination of research messages. For example, evaluate the outcome of delivering hard hitting messages on behaviour change - Develop community interventions, which need to be free of charge |
Implementation | - How can we get more evidence into practice? |
Primary Prevention | - Studies with key groups, like children, younger adults, parents. - What do key groups know about knee pain and the musculoskeletal health? - Do they know of the impact of risk factors for themselves or their children? |