RE-AIMing conferences: evaluating the adoption, implementation and maintenance of the Rick Hansen Institute’s Praxis 2016

Health Research Policy and Systems, 2019 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-019-0434-1 · Published: May 17, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Healthcare Public Health

Simple Explanation

The Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) hosted Praxis 2016, a conference aimed at developing solutions for translating spinal cord injury (SCI) research into practice. An independent team evaluated Praxis using the RE-AIM framework to understand its impact. The evaluation focused on the setting level, examining adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the Praxis model within the RHI and related stakeholders. Data was gathered through interviews, fidelity assessments during the conference, and observation notes from the evaluation team.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Attendees (n = 13) and organisers (n = 9)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The Praxis model was adopted by organizers and attendees and implemented by RHI as intended.
2
Including SCI community members throughout the entire process, from development to post-conference activities, is important.
3
Facilitation and fostering interactive problem-solving are valuable components of such conferences.

Research Summary

The Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) conducted an evaluation of its Praxis 2016 conference, which aimed to translate spinal cord injury (SCI) research into practice. The evaluation, guided by the RE-AIM framework, focused on setting-level factors such as adoption, implementation, and maintenance. The study found that the Praxis model was adopted and implemented as intended, with key lessons learned emphasizing the importance of SCI community involvement and interactive problem-solving.

Practical Implications

Model for future KT conferences

Other domains could learn from, adopt and build on the Praxis 2016 approach to address research-to-practice gaps.

Importance of SCI Community Involvement

Future KT initiatives should aim to partner with people with lived experience early and often throughout the planning, implementation and evaluation of their initiatives.

Need for Post-Event Planning

Large-scale and event-based KT initiatives need to plan for, communicate about, and invest funds and personnel in post-event activities that support long-term impact.

Study Limitations

1
Fidelity checks and evaluator comments were completed in real-time rather than using recordings.
2
Findings were limited by the perceptions of the individual evaluators.
3
Evaluation was commissioned 1 month prior to the Praxis conference

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury