How do advisory groups contribute to healthy public policy research?

Helen van Eyk, Sharon Friel, Peter Sainsbury, Tessa Boyd-Caine, Patrick Harris, Colin MacDougall, Toni Delany-Crowe, Connie Musolino, Fran Baum

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objectives: This paper reflects on experiences of Australian public health researchers and members of research policy advisory groups (PAGs) in working with PAGs. It considers their benefits and challenges for building researcher and policy actor collaboration and ensuring policy relevance of research. Methods: Four research projects conducted between 2015 and 2020 were selected for analysis. 68 PAG members from Australian federal, state and local governments, NGOs and academics participated in providing feedback. Thematic analysis of participant feedback and researchers’ critical reflections on the effectiveness and capacity of PAGs to support research translation was undertaken. Results: PAGs benefit the research process and can facilitate knowledge translation. PAG membership changes, differing researcher and policy actor agendas, and researchers’ need to balance policy relevance and research independence are challenges when working with PAGs. Strategies to improve the function of health policy research PAGs are identified. Conclusions: The paper suggests a broader adapted approach for gaining the benefits and addressing the challenges of working with PAGs. It opens theoretical and practical discussion of PAGs’ role and how they can increase research translation into policy.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1581-1591
    Number of pages11
    JournalInternational Journal of Public Health
    Volume65
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

    Keywords

    • Healthy public policy research
    • Research policy advisory groups
    • Research translation
    • Research utilisation
    • Researcher policymaker collaboration

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'How do advisory groups contribute to healthy public policy research?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this