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Abstract
Background: The integration of technology into everyday life has resulted in unprecedented access to information. However, in the age of “fake news” it is difficult to know which messages relevant to healthy aging are trustworthy. Difficulty understanding scientific research and identifying practical takeaways can also be barriers to making evidence-informed health decisions. The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (the Portal), is a website that bridges the gap between research and decision making by curating, evaluating, and synthesizing research and resources to provide older adults, caregivers, public health professionals, clinicians, and policymakers with evidence-based information on optimal aging. One knowledge translation tool used by the Portal is Blog Posts that translate the best available evidence on healthy aging into easy-to-understand messages accessible to citizens.
Objectives: To share the process of creating and disseminating high-quality Blog Posts that translate information on healthy aging, and key lessons learned.
Methods: Potential blog topics are identified quarterly through scientific abstracts available on the Portal, news headlines, national and global Google search trends, citizen and expert suggestions, and Portal website analytics. The core of each Blog Post is based on findings from a high-quality systematic review fed to the Portal through one of four internationally-recognized databases for public health, clinical and policymaking evidence. Using an established template, an outline with background information and key evidence is produced and sent to a professional writer who ties everything together in engaging, and easy to understand language.
Results: Around 26 health-related Blogs Posts are produced and published annually. Generally, each blog includes: an engaging title; summary, what the blog is about; relevant image; a “bottom line”, highlight of main takeaways; background information on the disease and/or intervention; what the research tells us; featured online resources rated for evidence use, transparency, and accessibility; and references. Since 2014, 196 health-related Blogs Posts have been published. Overall, Blog Posts are the most popular form of content on the Portal and contributed 58% of the Portal’s content-related page views in 2019.
Conclusions: The Portal gives citizens, health professionals, policymakers and researchers direct access to trusted, evidence-based information about optimal aging to help users remain healthy, active and engaged as long as possible. Blog Posts are one useful tool that assist in the dissemination of this information in consumer friendly language.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Consumers—namely older adults, their caregivers, and health experts—are involved in various stages of the blog production process. This includes blog topic selection (e.g., provision of topic suggestions), and content contribution (e.g., sharing personal experiences or professional expertise) or review, where appropriate/needed.
Objectives: To share the process of creating and disseminating high-quality Blog Posts that translate information on healthy aging, and key lessons learned.
Methods: Potential blog topics are identified quarterly through scientific abstracts available on the Portal, news headlines, national and global Google search trends, citizen and expert suggestions, and Portal website analytics. The core of each Blog Post is based on findings from a high-quality systematic review fed to the Portal through one of four internationally-recognized databases for public health, clinical and policymaking evidence. Using an established template, an outline with background information and key evidence is produced and sent to a professional writer who ties everything together in engaging, and easy to understand language.
Results: Around 26 health-related Blogs Posts are produced and published annually. Generally, each blog includes: an engaging title; summary, what the blog is about; relevant image; a “bottom line”, highlight of main takeaways; background information on the disease and/or intervention; what the research tells us; featured online resources rated for evidence use, transparency, and accessibility; and references. Since 2014, 196 health-related Blogs Posts have been published. Overall, Blog Posts are the most popular form of content on the Portal and contributed 58% of the Portal’s content-related page views in 2019.
Conclusions: The Portal gives citizens, health professionals, policymakers and researchers direct access to trusted, evidence-based information about optimal aging to help users remain healthy, active and engaged as long as possible. Blog Posts are one useful tool that assist in the dissemination of this information in consumer friendly language.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Consumers—namely older adults, their caregivers, and health experts—are involved in various stages of the blog production process. This includes blog topic selection (e.g., provision of topic suggestions), and content contribution (e.g., sharing personal experiences or professional expertise) or review, where appropriate/needed.