Article type
Abstract
Background:
Collaboration is one of the key components for evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). However, navigating through the complexities of gathering and coordinating experts, practitioners, and policymakers with diverse expertise in EIDM from various backgrounds and perspectives becomes a major challenge in all processes. As part of a large international program, this ongoing project adopts the World Health Organization (WHO) EIDM checklist to assess the current situation of EIDM in the healthcare and education sectors in Thailand and to validate the applicability and usability of the checklist itself. Through a scoping review process, the project team worked together while facing various differences in the complexities of this cross-disciplinary collaboration initiative.
Objectives:
This presentation aims to report the challenges that emerged during the evidence synthesis process from different perspectives within the cross-disciplinary team. Additionally, the team's strategies for bridging these gaps will be presented.
Methods:
Based on an ethnographic case study approach, the team members exchanged their experiences as they reviewed all relevant materials since the project's initiation in August 2023. The description of the reviewed process includes the formation of the project team, protocol setup and preparation, data collection, data screening, and data extraction.
Results:
Several challenges emerged due to the cross-disciplinary nature of this project. For instance, transforming diverse experiences and perspectives into a shared understanding of the project's goals and framework was pivotal to moving the project forward. Diverse expertise in EIDM also led to different interpretations of fundamental concepts and processes or disagreement regarding the expected output, strategies, workloads, tools, and resources.
In overcoming these difficulties, among other efforts, team members recognized the importance of strong leadership and efficient communication as key elements. The team also emphasized piloting collaborative tasks for questionable approaches before proceeding to full operation. Additionally, the team found that working in smaller groups enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of collaboration.
Conclusion:
While collaboration itself presented a significant challenge, participating in each process provided a valuable learning platform for all team members to understand the diverse nuances of EIDM. Juxtaposing different perspectives enriched the project with valuable discussions, becoming an essential element alongside the intended outcomes.
Collaboration is one of the key components for evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). However, navigating through the complexities of gathering and coordinating experts, practitioners, and policymakers with diverse expertise in EIDM from various backgrounds and perspectives becomes a major challenge in all processes. As part of a large international program, this ongoing project adopts the World Health Organization (WHO) EIDM checklist to assess the current situation of EIDM in the healthcare and education sectors in Thailand and to validate the applicability and usability of the checklist itself. Through a scoping review process, the project team worked together while facing various differences in the complexities of this cross-disciplinary collaboration initiative.
Objectives:
This presentation aims to report the challenges that emerged during the evidence synthesis process from different perspectives within the cross-disciplinary team. Additionally, the team's strategies for bridging these gaps will be presented.
Methods:
Based on an ethnographic case study approach, the team members exchanged their experiences as they reviewed all relevant materials since the project's initiation in August 2023. The description of the reviewed process includes the formation of the project team, protocol setup and preparation, data collection, data screening, and data extraction.
Results:
Several challenges emerged due to the cross-disciplinary nature of this project. For instance, transforming diverse experiences and perspectives into a shared understanding of the project's goals and framework was pivotal to moving the project forward. Diverse expertise in EIDM also led to different interpretations of fundamental concepts and processes or disagreement regarding the expected output, strategies, workloads, tools, and resources.
In overcoming these difficulties, among other efforts, team members recognized the importance of strong leadership and efficient communication as key elements. The team also emphasized piloting collaborative tasks for questionable approaches before proceeding to full operation. Additionally, the team found that working in smaller groups enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of collaboration.
Conclusion:
While collaboration itself presented a significant challenge, participating in each process provided a valuable learning platform for all team members to understand the diverse nuances of EIDM. Juxtaposing different perspectives enriched the project with valuable discussions, becoming an essential element alongside the intended outcomes.