Dementia Researchers' Views on Communicating with Policymakers
Author Information
Author(s): Peter Fusdahl, Miguel Germán Borda, Jonathan Patricio Baldera, Dag Aarsland, Ara Khachaturian, Geir Sverre Braut
Primary Institution: Centre for Age-Related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway
Hypothesis
What are the perspectives of dementia researchers on their communication with policymakers and public research funding decision-makers?
Conclusion
Less than half of dementia researchers communicate with public officials, primarily about their own research and funding needs.
Supporting Evidence
- 47% of researchers had contact with public officials in the last 12 months.
- 87% of researchers believe public officials do not understand their research well.
- Years of research experience and H-index were significant factors in communication with policymakers.
Takeaway
Almost half of the researchers studying dementia talk to government officials about their work, but many think these officials don't really understand their research.
Methodology
An anonymous online survey with 24 questions was sent to 392 researchers, and responses were analyzed using various statistical methods.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and the nature of online surveys.
Limitations
The study's response rate was low at 23.2%, which may introduce non-response bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 49% PhD holders, 41% medical specialists, and were primarily from Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.004 for years of research experience
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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