Scaling-up citizen workshops in public libraries to disseminate and discuss primary care research results: a quasi interventional study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Little is known about engaging patients and stakeholders in the process of scaling up effective knowledge translation interventions targeting the general public. OBJECTIVE Using an integrated knowledge translation approach, we aimed to scale up and evaluate an effective pilot program of disseminating research results in public libraries. METHODS We conducted a scaling-up study targeting the general public. Based on our successful pilot project, we co-developed and implemented a larger-scale program of free citizen workshops in public libraries, this time in close research partnership with stakeholders and patient representatives. Citizen workshops, each facilitated by one participating physician and one science communicator, consisted of a 45-min computer-assisted presentation and a 45-min open exchange. The intervention outcome was knowledge gained. Scale-up outcomes were satisfaction, appropriateness, coverage and costs. An evaluation questionnaire was used to collect data of interest. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. RESULTS The workshop theme chosen by patient and stakeholder representatives was the high prevalence of medication overuse among people over 65 years of age. From April to May 2019, 26 workshops were given in 25 public libraries reaching 362 people. The mean age of public participants was 64.8 years (SD=12.5). Eighteen participating physicians and six science communicators facilitated the workshops. Participants reported significant knowledge gain (mean difference 2.1, 95% CI 2.0–2.2, P < .001). Median score for overall public satisfaction was 9/10 (IQR 8–10). A high level of appropriateness of the workshops was globally rated by the public participants. Coverage was 92.6% of the total number of public libraries targeted. Costs were $6,051.84 CAD for workshop design and $22,935.41 CAD for scaling them up. CONCLUSIONS This project successfully established a large-scale and successful KT bridge between researchers, clinicians, and citizens via public libraries. This study provides a model for a dissemination practice that benefits the general public by both engaging them in the dissemination process and by targeting them directly.