The Translation Research on Obesity Prevention In Communities (TROPIC) provides an opportunity to develop a knowledge exchange system between researchers and policy-makers so that researchers produce obesity-related evidence that is relevant and policy-makers increase their capacity to use research evidence in their decision-making. There has been an increased focus on the need to use obesity-related research evidence to inform policies and practices that promote a healthier environment. To date, knowledge transfer of the OPIC data has focussed on converting results into messages for the community-based interventions that aimed to change obesity-promoting practices. TROPIC signals the next phase, which is to build capacity for evidence-informed decision-making in key organisations and for researchers to provide user-friendly evidence.

The Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) project has provided important Pacific data on i) factors influencing behaviours that may cause overweight or obesity, and ii) the effects of the interventions that were carried out with secondary schools in the Nasinu area from 2005-2008.

Aim: To enhance the capacity of policy-makers to access, synthesise and utilize evidence-based information and translate this into policies to promote healthy eating and/or physical activity.

 

 

1)    To conduct more in-depth analysis of the various data sets derived from the OPIC project in order to consolidate and extend the evidence base

2)    To determine how a ‘knowledge broker’ can influence the translation of obesity-related research evidence into policy-making practices and policy with selected government and non-government organisations in Fiji. 

Collaboration

 

The TROPIC project is funded by AusAID and Deakin University and jointly administered by Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed) and Deakin University under the auspices of the Centre for the Prevention of Non Communicable Diseases (C-Pond). Key organizations that have the potential to influence the health of Fiji citizens will participate in this knowledge-exchange (KE) process.

Heads of participating organizations will nominate key decision-makers to take part.

Methodology

 

Participants: Potential organisations will be identified from government and non-government sectors and be subject to a set of selection criteria. It will be left up to specific organisations to assign particular individuals to participate in the research activities, in accordance with the requirements set down by the TROPIC project.

 

·         potential to develop policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity

·         range of potential policies impacting food and PA across org

·         potential to interact and share newly-gained resources and knowledge exchange skills with other sectors

·         readiness to participate in knowledge exchange

·         organisational resources.  

 

Semi-structured interviews will be developed during the early consultation process. Questions will be related to 1) organisational structures in place to access, make sense of and use research results for developing policies that have the potential to promote health eating and activity levels; 2) factors that could facilitate the translation of evidence into policy; 3) barriers to using evidence when developing policy. Participants will be asked to evaluate the following:  Organisational culture (attitudes, behaviors, and intentions) related to policies that promote healthy eating and/or physical activity, Capacity to access, synthesize and utilize evidence-based information and translate this into policies to promote healthy eating and/or physical activity,  and the processes involved in knowledge brokering.

 

Data will be analyzed using N-VIVO according to the 1) type of organization, 2) participants' role in that organization, and 3) change over time.

 

The core function is to influence the translation of obesity-related research evidence into policy-making practices and policy with selected government and non-government organisations in Fiji.  This will be implemented with six appropriate strategies or outputs as follows:

 

- to establish and enhance effective and sustainable linkages with selected organisations

 

- to collate, compile and analyze the organisational statistics aimed to assist in policy formulation. 

 

- to analyze policy-making practices and policy and asses its impact to the health sector

 

- to assist in the identification, preparation, monitoring and evaluation of policy-making processes in selected organisations

 

- to provide executive support services to management and appraise consultancy services to individuals and organisations as and when required.

 

-  to enhance, consolidate and facilitate training in translation of obesity-related research evidence into policy-making practices and policy.

 

Process: Key decision-makers in organizations participating in TROPIC will attend 1-3 workshops, take part in one interview lasting about 40 minutes and complete two short surveys over a period of 12-14 months. Participants will be asked to discuss the most effective ways of accessing, making sense of and using research evidence when developing policies (e.g. “In what form would evidence be easiest to access?” “What resources do you have to access and adapt evidence?” “What resources would make it easier to ensure that research evidence is used when developing policies?”

 

The KE-TROPIC team will work with each organisation for 12-14 months. The KE-TROPIC team will conduct a rapid situational analysis to evaluate organisational capacity. Then, participants will complete surveys about their current capacity to engage in evidence-informed decision-making. Resources will be tailored for each organisation in order to facilitate the uptake of evidence.

 

Duration of study: Three years from June 2009 to 2012

 

Funding Source: ADRA grant

 

TROPIC Coordinator – Mrs. Gade Waqa, Phone: 679 3233 254, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

The following is the current update for TROPIC.

 

·         Staffing – Research Fellow on board

 

                   Research Assistant to be advertised soon

 

·         Six organizations selected as partners to TROPIC

 

 

-          Successful meeting with Minister for Health who endorsed partnership

 

-          Participants recruited and consent received

 

-          Workshop 1 delivered

 

-          Survey questionnaire filled by individual participants

 

-          One-on-one interview will be delivered to each participant soon.

 

-          Workshop 2 due next week Tuesday 

 

 

-          Successful meeting with the CEO who endorsed partnership

 

-          Participants recruited and consent received

 

-          Workshop 1 due next week Thursday and to be followed by survey questionnaire and one-on-one interview

 

 

-          Meeting with PS on Friday 12/2/10

 

 

Meeting with PS on Wednesday 17/2/10

 

 

Presentation to DSC meeting due 17/2/10

 

 

Yet to be contacted

 

·         TROPIC Advisors

 

-          Names selected and confirmed

 

-          All have agreed

 

-          Need to work on honorarium

 

·         TROPIC Independent Experts

 

-          Names selected and confirmed