PROLIFERATE: An Adaptable Framework to Evaluate Participatory Research Products

Abstract

BackgroundParticipatory research (PR) – the practice of involving stakeholders in research processes – is growing in prominence in health research because it can enhance the impact of research and the translation of research-based knowledge. Yet, the literature indicates that the products of PR studies are rarely evaluated empirically to track, demonstrate, and expand their claimed effectiveness and impact. This lack of measurement tools and frameworks can limit the effectiveness of knowledge translation (KT). MethodsWe introduce a framework for evaluating the products of PR called PROLIFERATE. We use an inductive combination of formative and summative evaluation methods to pilot test the framework on a Frailty PR communication product (a video) to determine the methods’ functionality.ResultsPROLIFERATE demonstrates adeptness for evaluating barriers and enablers of PR product uptake, effectiveness, and impact. It can identify ways to address barriers by assessing knowledge user perspectives on the comprehensibility of the product, emotional resonance, motivation to change, and future accessibility. ConclusionsPROLIFERATE can enable longitudinal and cross-sectional measurement of PR products in implementation and integrated KT efforts. It can evaluate and track the effectiveness and impact of different types of PR products in a situational responsive manner which compares users, platforms, and other factors in a replicable way.

A Human-Centered Approach to Measuring the Impact of Evidence-Based Online Resources

“…These tools seamlessly complement our evaluation process, emphasizing the 'Excellent impact' achieved by the co-designed frailty video, with its benefits in knowledge dissemination and behavioral change motivation. Regarding PROLIFERATE's adaptability, including quantitative tools [15], as seen in its application for interdisciplinary learning [16] and assessing stakeholders' views on RAPIDx AI [7,8,11,17,18], it highlights the framework's potential for broader applications in knowledge translation and science implementation.…”

“…While various research methods are used in knowledge translation and science implementation for developing and evaluating online health resources, many metrics for success rely on superficial indicators like website visits and follower counts. To address this limitation, we developed an innovative evaluation framework, PROLIFERATE [7,8,11], to comprehensively assess the impact of evidence-based online resources. This paper evaluates the impact of an evidence-based frailty video using the PROLIFERATE framework, shedding light on the multidimensional effects of such resources in healthcare decision-making.…”