51. Involving users in the research process: Developing research and evaluation skills of community dieticians (212)

Sally-Ann Baker, Lecturer, Centre for Health and Community Research, North East Wales Institute, Wrexham, Wales, United Kingdom
Co authors: Ros Carnwell
bakersa@newi.ac.uk

Abstract:

Community development initiatives are frequently used to promote changes in eating behaviours and involve training local people to work as Community Food Workers or as peer educators to work within communities (Kennedy et al 1999). These initiatives are often funded through grant schemes, and there is an increased emphasis on evaluation of effectiveness. Such initiatives are often multifaceted and evaluations complex (Rychetnik et al, 2002). Grant holders, whilst being experts in their field, often lack experience of research and evaluation, and there is a risk of poor quality evidence being generated. The Welsh Assembly Government (2002) recognizes the need to develop the health and social care workforce and has built evaluation and training support into a number of their grant schemes. One such scheme is an All-Wales initiative to increase the capacity of dieticians, community food workers and community nurses, to deliver accurate information about food and nutrition through the delivery of OCN level 2 courses. As part of the evaluation of this grant scheme commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government, grant holders were trained in research skills and provided with ongoing support. The aim of this paper is to describe an evaluation of the research skills training and support provided. Ten grant holders were involved and participants ( n=20) were trained in evaluation techniques and involved in developing data collection tools, thus acknowledging participants as experts in their own field. This enabled dieticians to develop skills in evaluation, data collection and management, and enabled the research team to develop a large data set which met the overall aims of the evaluation. A web-based survey was used to ascertain participants’ experiences of research training, acquisition of research skills and identification of future needs. The paper describes the methods employed and explores the survey findings. Their implications will also be discussed.

Biography:

A lecturer at NEWI, Wrexham I am primarily involved in research teaching and research practice. I am not a nurse but have been working in the department for 9 years, and have a psychology background. My interests include service evaluation, disease prevention, nursing roles.