collaboration between researchers and state policymakers ahrq annual meeting september 16, 2009
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Collaboration Between Researchers and State Policymakers AHRQ Annual Meeting September 16, 2009. Robert F. St. Peter, M.D. President & CEO Kansas Health Institute. Communicating with Policy Makers. Research competes for the attention of policy makers on two levels - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Collaboration Between Researchers and State
PolicymakersAHRQ Annual Meeting
September 16, 2009
Collaboration Between Researchers and State
PolicymakersAHRQ Annual Meeting
September 16, 2009
Robert F. St. Peter, M.D.President & CEO
Kansas Health Institute
Communicating withPolicy Makers
Communicating withPolicy Makers
Research competes for the attention of policy makers on two levels
Subject – health vs. all other public policy issues demanding attention
Influence – objective information is only one voice among many affecting decisions by public policy makers
Audience Identification & Research
Message Development
Tactics
Strategic Communication 101Strategic Communication 101
Kansas LegislatureKansas Legislature
Citizen legislature In session ~90 days every year Five “health” committees
Senate Public Health and Welfare Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance House Health and Human Services House Insurance Health Policy Oversight Committee
Two budget committees Leadership committee
Kansas Legislature (cont.)Kansas Legislature (cont.)
Limited support staff Legislative Research Department (staff of
36, including clerical) Committee staff (primarily clerical) Personal staff (clerical, shared) Agency testimony
It’s not Washington, DC out there! OMB, GAO, CRS, AHRQ, think tanks, etc.
Survey of KansasPolicy Makers (2003)
Survey of KansasPolicy Makers (2003)
State legislators 70% response rate (116/165)
County commissioners 80% response rate (268/334)
CATI-administered telephone survey Questions focused on
sources and methods of receiving information perceived information needs
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Television or radio reports
Party leadership
Other healthcare providers in your district
Your local health department
New spaper reports
Other scientif ic experts
Information from the Internet
Your ow n healthcare provider
University researchers
Individual citizens in your district
Other legislators
Lobbyists
Advocacy groups
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Your government support staff
Frequently Occasionally Never
Sources of Health Policy Information: KS LegislatorsSources of Health Policy
Information: KS Legislators
Information Sources for State Policy Makers, U.S.
Information Sources for State Policy Makers, U.S.
(scale from 1 to 5) Rating
Legislative staff 4.3
State agencies 4.1
Constituents 3.8
Non-profit organizations 3.5
Legislators 3.5
Advocates/lobbyists 3.3Sorian & Baugh, 2002
(scale from 1 to 10) KS Legislators
KS Commissioners
Talking one-on-one w/ informed ind. 8.7 8.8
Reading brief summary material 8.4 7.9
Receiving testimony at hearing 7.9 6.5
Forums/seminars lasting 1-3 hours 5.8 6.3
News media articles/reports 5.3 6.0
Reading in-depth articles or reports 4.8 5.7
Watching videotapes 4.7 5.3
Conferences lasting 1 day or longer 4.2 4.9
Listening to audio tapes 4.1 4.4
Preferred Ways to Receive Information
Preferred Ways to Receive Information
23%
50%
4%
18%
5% 1 page or less
2 or 3 pages
4 to 10 pages
As long asnecessary
Other
Length of Written InformationLength of Written Information
“Ideal length of written materials you read to help you make policy decisions” (KS Legislators)
2%
30%
61%
7%
Never
Sometimes
Usually
Always
Adequacy of Available InformationAdequacy of Available Information
“In making policy decisions, would you say you have enough reliable information on public health never, sometimes, usually, or always?” (KS Legislators)
Framework for Knowledge TransferFramework for Knowledge Transfer
What should be transferred to decision makers (the message)?
To whom should research knowledge be transferred (the target audience)?
By whom should it be transferred (the messenger)?
How should it be transferred (communications infrastructure)?
With what effect should it be transferred (evaluation)?
Lavis, et. al., 2003
What Should Be Transferred?What Should Be Transferred?
Transfer actionable messages from a body of research knowledge, not simply a single research report or findings from a single study
Research in the form of “ideas,” not “data,” is most influential
Decision makers rarely use a regression coefficient to solve a particular problem
Over long periods of time, “ideas” enlighten decision makers about a particular issue and how to handle it
Lavis, et. al., 2003
Focus on “interactive engagement” Interpersonal Exchange of ideas Iterative
“The research literature on which processes are best at transferring knowledge suggest that passive processes are ineffective and that interactive engagement may be most effective…. The hall mark of these interventions is interaction: interaction between the [subject] and an ‘expert’ … or interaction between the [subject] and someone to whom he or she routinely turns for guidance.”
Lavis et al., 2003
How Should ItBe Transferred?How Should It
Be Transferred?
How Should ItBe Transferred? (cont.)
How Should ItBe Transferred? (cont.)
Focus on process not events Long-term Continuous Outcome oriented
“ Over long periods of time, two-way ‘exchange’ processes that give equal importance to what researchers can learn from decision makers and what decision makers can learn from researchers can produce cultural shifts. Such cultural shifts can facilitate the ongoing use of research knowledge in decision making, not just one-off uses.”
Lavis, et al., 2003
Evolution of KHI Communication Activities
Evolution of KHI Communication Activities
Briefs and reports Legislative testimony Legislative brown bags and forums Study groups for legislature KHI News Service Legislative Health Caucus Legislative Health Academy
Kansas Legislative Health AcademyKansas Legislative Health Academy
Launch in Fall 2009 12-15 legislators
Selected with input from legislative leadership Substantial commitment of time
3-day retreat, three 2-day sessions At least one year
Payment of per diem and expenses Support from legislative leadership Certificate upon completion Curriculum integrates
System dynamics Values framework Leadership skills
Considerations withActive EngagementConsiderations withActive Engagement
Restrictions based on tax status Governmental ethics/open meetings Comfort with shared control Potential for introduction of bias Maintaining credibility while in mix Resources to sustain engagement Determining effectiveness
Information for policy makers. Health for Kansans.Information for policy makers. Health for Kansans.
Kansas Health InstituteKansas Health Institute