Assessing Community Capacity in Ontario's HIV/AIDS Sector
Author Information
Author(s): Michael G. Wilson, Sean B. Rourke, John N. Lavis, Jean Bacon, Robb Travers
Primary Institution: The Ontario HIV Treatment Network
Hypothesis
What is the capacity of community-based organizations in the HIV/AIDS sector to acquire, assess, adapt, and apply research evidence?
Conclusion
Community-based organizations in Ontario's HIV/AIDS sector have low capacity to find and use research evidence.
Supporting Evidence
- Organizations reported low capacity to acquire, assess, adapt, and apply research evidence.
- Approximately half of the organizations indicated they have a supportive culture for research use.
- Many organizations lack the skills, time, and resources to effectively use research evidence.
Takeaway
The study found that organizations helping people with HIV/AIDS in Ontario struggle to use research to improve their services.
Methodology
Executive Directors of HIV/AIDS community-based organizations in Ontario were invited to complete a validated online survey.
Potential Biases
Some organizations may have conflicts of interest due to funding from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.
Limitations
The study had a low response rate and a small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Participants were predominantly from organizations focused on HIV/AIDS, serving diverse populations including women, youth, and men who have sex with men.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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