Using a co-design approach to increase the awareness, use and engagement of a digital map of COVID-19 recommendations

Article type
Authors
Motilall A1, Lotfi T2, Gassanov M3, Schünemann H4, Chi Y5, Kredo T6, Gloeck N6, Marthe P7, Okwen P7, Elliott S8, Cyrkot S9, Pottie K10, Sayfi S11, Allnutt D12, Piggott T13, Lo M1, Welch V14, Martel A15, Funnel S16, Lee N17, Wick C17, Suvada J18, eCOVID-19 RecMap Collaborators *19
1McMaster University
2WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, Research Methods and Recommendations, MacGRADE, McMaster University
3Spark, McMaster University
4Cochrane Canada, WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, Research Methods and Recommendations, MacGRADE, McMaster University
5Yealth Network, Beijing Yealth Technology Co., Ltd
6Cochrane South Africa, South African GRADE Network, South African Medical Research Council
7eBASE Africa
8Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta; Cochrane Child Health, Department of Pediatrics
9Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta
10Cochrane Equity Methods, GRADE Working Group, Department of Family Medicine, Western University
11Cochrane Canada, McMaster University
12McMaster University (Consultant/ Advisor)
13Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University; Department of Family Medicine, Queens University, Kingston, ON; Peterborough Public Health, Peterborough, ON
14Cochrane Equity Methods, Bruyère Research Institute & University of Ottawa
15Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
16Centre for Indigenous Research and Evaluation, University of Ottawa
17Lakehead University, Department of Health Sciences
18National EBM/EBPH Platform and St. Elizabeth University of Public Health and Social Work and WHO Executive Board
19*International Institutions
Abstract
Background: The eCOVID-19 Recommendations Map & Gateway to Contextualization (RecMap) is an online tool containing 7,200 COVID-19 recommendations and is the product of collaboration with more than 40 organizations around the world. Our knowledge mobilization (KM) project is currently supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) to enhance the reach of the RecMap by engaging with 10 different groups of knowledge users.

Objectives: The project aims to increase the awareness, use, and engagement of the RecMap using a codesign strategy.

Methods: A committee of stakeholder representatives, staff, and investigators was established to develop our RecMap KM plan. The committee meetings allow members to build a shared understanding of goals, provide input on decisions, and foster mutual learning. Our target audience focuses on a range of RecMap beneficiaries and intermediaries across Canada (community leaders working with migrants and refugees, policymakers, media, public health professionals, and Indigenous Peoples) and globally (nondigital public in Cameroon, parents, professionals working with marginalized communities in Slovakia, Cochrane members in Africa, and guideline developers in China).

Results (Anticipated Value): A framework, informed by a systematic review of codesign approaches, was developed by our committee (Figure 1) and guides the KM plan for engaging each target audience. The framework contains four components: an aim, principles, activities, and outcomes. Our team is currently conducting unidirectional activities through webinars, storytelling, and media press releases. We are learning about our audiences’ needs through interviews and workshops. The RecMap is also being integrated with other websites, and plain-language tools are being developed and translated. We anticipate that the RecMap user base will increase and that identified barriers and facilitators will lead to RecMap improvements.

Conclusions: A diverse network of knowledge users and a KM framework were established through a codesign approach, enabling the implementation of RecMap-related activities. Our results will inform future disease-specific recommendation maps that are tailored to the needs of potential users.

Patient, public and/or healthcare consumer involvement: To ensure an effective KM plan for our digital health tool, we have engaged stakeholder representatives from all 10 groups throughout the designing, planning, and implementation stages.