The success of research implementation strategies on evidence informed decision making by allied health managers: a randomised controlled trial

Implementation strategy group 1 will involve the provision of an “evidence-based policy recommendation” document. This report contains information based on a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of weekend allied health services for improving patient health and health service outcomes on hospital wards. The document will be constructed in the 1:3:25 format developed by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation in order to ensure that research findings were presented to policy makers in a logical and consistent manner. It allows for a one page outline of the main messages that have come from the research, a three page executive summary and 25 pages to present the findings and methodology used in a language that is clear and accessible to the non-research specialist. Specific recommendations will be made as to how allied health managers can align their weekend allied health services to the current evidence base, these recommendations will relate to how the proportion of total allied health services should be delivered during weekends in order to align with the current research evidence. This document was developed by project investigators through a consensus building approach and reviewed by a key-stakeholder review committee comprised of health professionals, managers, consumers, carer representatives, policy makers and an academic. Implementation strategy group 2 will involve the provision of the same “evidence-based policy recommendation” document and access to a knowledge broker. One knowledge broker with a PhD level qualification, from an allied health professional background, with research experience, currently employed as a post-doctoral research fellow will be recruited as the knowledge broker for this implementation strategy. The knowledge broker will offer a 60-minute initial consultation on a 1:1 basis to perform an initial individual, organisational, and external environment (e.g. government policy) needs assessment. The personal gain through provision of ongoing professional development activities, as well as the organisational and societal impact of aligning practice to the evidence-based policy recommendation will be emphasised during this initial consultation in order to establish an imperative for change. A 12-month plan will then be developed based on a shared vision to address individual and organisational capacity for evidence-informed decision-making. One 60-minute group-based webinar session will be offered within the first 6-months of the intervention period depending on allied health manager availability. This session will serve to develop trust and networks between the knowledge broker and the allied health managers, as well as between the allied health managers. Support for organisational change and education regarding the interpretation of the evidence-based policy recommendations will be a focus of this session. Follow-up contact will be offered on a monthly basis via email or telephone (as per the managers preference) for 12-months. This activity will focus on employing effective communication strategies and providing resources to support change. Adherence to the knowledge broker implementation strategy will be monitored via the knowledge broker diary kept for the 12-month period.