Expert Prioritization of Evidence-Based Mental Health Research Findings for End-User Dissemination - Abstract
Background: Health research dissemination is essential to optimize the sustained use of evidence-based practices. Gaps exist to prioritize, package, and
disseminate findings with end-users following study completion. The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program—Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCM)
is an evidence-based practice implemented in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve outcomes for patients with complex mental health
conditions. This project describes a method used to identify CCM findings for active dissemination with mental health teams (i.e., staff and providers) and
patients.
Methods: In July 2024, VA researchers with CCM expertise independently used a prioritization matrix to rate CCM findings from 13 peer-reviewed
publications for dissemination. Prioritization criteria were relevance (of interest), actionable (useful for care provision or to shape behavior), and prime for
dissemination (for their immediate added value to CCM implementation and sustainment). CCM findings were rated on a 3-point Likert scale (1 = not, 2 =
somewhat, 3 = very) for each criterion. Participants met to discuss discordant scores and reached consensus using nominal group voting.
Results: Five VA researchers engaged in the prioritization process. Mean CCM finding ratings varied from 4 to 8 (range = 3-9). Of 13 CCM findings, 3
had mixed ratings, and 10 had consensus ratings: 7 were inadequate, and 3 were prioritized for dissemination by end-user group.
For mental health teams, the sustainability of CCM, effectiveness of CCM and CCM impact on one-year all-cause mortality were prioritized for dissemination.
For patients, the effectiveness of CCM was prioritized for dissemination.
Conclusions: CCM findings published in peer-reviewed journals have limited reach and are not always easily understood by non-research audiences
(e.g., mental health teams treating patients with CCM) intended to benefit from this new evidence. Prioritizing CCM findings for dissemination is an important
steppingstone for knowledge transfer to end-users, which can optimize the sustained use of CCM and other evidence-based practices.