Research Article

Dissemination of Health-Related Research among Scientists in Three Countries: Access to Resources and Current Practices

Table 1

Reasons, resources, and methods used to disseminate the results of research in public health in Brazil, US, and UK %a ().

Dissemination characteristicsBrazilUnited KingdomUnited StatesTotal value ()

Reasons to disseminateb
Raise awareness of the findings92.1 (209)93.1 (216)94.4 (251)93.2 (676).598
Influence practice or policy91.2 (207)93.1 (216)90.2 (240)91.4 (663).512
Influence practice81.1 (184)83.6 (194)80.1 (213)81.5 (591).583
Influence policy78.0 (177)85.3 (198)75.6 (201)79.4 (576).021
Stimulate discussion or debate86.3 (196)74.6 (173)70.7 (188)76.8 (557)<.01
Attract future funding52.4 (119)62.5 (145)52.3 (139)55.6 (403).037
Raise the organizational profile52.4 (119)64.7 (150)42.1 (112)52.6 (381)<.01
Promote public understanding of science47.1 (107)40.1 (93)57.9 (154)48.8 (354)<.01
Justify public funding60.4 (137)48.3 (112)39.1 (104)48.7 (353)<.01
Satisfy grant/contractual obligations15.0 (34)36.6 (85)41.4 (110)31.6 (229)<.01
Improve your own communication29.1 (66)24.1 (56)21.1 (56)24.6 (178).117

Importance of dissemination to nonresearch audiences
Importance to your own work
Very important 77.7 (171)69.6 (160)54.2 (143)66.4 (474)
Important 19.5 (43)24.3 (56)24.2 (64)22.8 (163)
Somewhat/not important/NS 2.7 (6)6.1 (14)21.6 (57)10.8 (77)<.01
Importance to the work of your unit/department
Very important 75.9 (167)65.7 (151)37.7 (100)58.5 (418)
Important 22.7 (50)26.5 (61)24.5 (65)24.6 (176)
Somewhat/not important/IDKc1.4 (3)7.8 (18)37.7 (100)16.9 (121)<.01

Resources & structures for dissemination in unit/department
Formal communication/dissemination strategy or plan27.8 (62)20.2 (46)31.8 (84)26.9 (192).014
Dedicated person or team responsible for dissemination-related activities32.0 (71)20.6 (47)52.6 (140)36.0 (258)<.01

Method of disseminationb
Academic journals98.7 (224)97.8 (227)100.0 (266)98.9 (717).067
Academic conferences91.6 (208)96.1 (223)92.5 (246)93.4 (677).117
Report to funders79.7 (181)91.4 (212)68.0 (181)79.2 (574)<.01
Seminars and/or workshops69.2 (157)71.1 (165)60.9 (162)66.8 (484).035
Press releases32.6 (74)48.3 (112)62.0 (165)48.4 (351)<.01
Face to face meetings49.8 (113)40.1 (93)53.4 (142)48.0 (348).01
Other conferences21.6 (49)55.2 (128)42.5 (113)40.0 (290)<.01
Media interviews32.6 (74)31.9 (74)50.8 (135)39.0 (283)<.01
Newsletters13.7 (31)39.2 (91)45.1 (120)33.4 (242)<.01
Email alerts6.2 (14)7.8 (18)22.2 (59)12.6 (91)<.01
Targeted mailings3.1 (7)16.4 (38)16.2 (43)12.1 (88)<.01

Designing for dissemination/processes/actions
Stage in the research process that dissemination-related activities are planned
Early 60.0 (132)35.2 (80)45.1 (120)46.6 (332)
Late 36.8 (81)64.8 (147)39.1 (104)46.6 (332)
Never 3.2 (7)0.0 (0)15.8 (42)6.9 (49)<.01
Frequency that research summaries/key messages are written for specific nonresearch audiences
Always/usually 34.7 (76)31.3 (71)32.0 (85)32.6 (232)
Sometimes 22.8 (50)48.5 (110)37.6 (100)36.5 (260)
Rarely/never/NS 42.5 (93)20.3 (46)30.5 (81)30.9 (220)<.01
Frequency the impact of your research is evaluated?
Always/usually 22.4 (49)13.3 (30)15.5 (41)16.9 (120)
Sometimes/rarely 55.7 (122)69.5 (157)56.8 (150)60.5 (429)
Never 19.2 (42)17.3 (39)26.5 (70)21.3 (151)
Not sure 2.7 (6)0.0 (0)1.1 (3)1.3 (9)<.01
Frequency that a framework/theory is used to plan dissemination-related activities
Always/usually 10.8 (24)8.8 (20)16.7 (44)12.3 (88)
Sometimes/rarely 22.4 (50)48.5 (110)38.4 (101)36.6 (261)
Never 60.1 (134)39.6 (90)25.9 (68)41.0 (292)
Not sure 6.7 (15)3.1 (7)8.7 (23)6.3 (45)
Do not plan dissemination activities 0.0 (0)0.0 (0)10.3 (27)3.8 (27)<.01
Time dedicated to dissemination-related activities to nonresearch audiences.
 <5%36.5 (80)31.4 (71)54.4 (143)41.5 (294)
 5–20%35.6 (78)52.7 (119)34.6 (91)40.7 (288)
 >20%27.9 (61)15.9 (36)11.0 (29)17.8 (126)<.01

% within local; bthose responding “yes”; cIDK = I do not know.