Transforming dementia research into practice: a multiple case study of academic research utilization strategies in Dutch Alzheimer Centres
2025

Transforming Dementia Research into Practice

Sample size: 29 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Zhu Eden Meng, Buljac-Samardžić Martina, Ahaus Kees, Huijsman Robbert

Primary Institution: Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management

Hypothesis

What strategies were used by the Alzheimer Centres to facilitate creation and adaptation of research findings into research products?

Conclusion

Successful research utilization requires evolving researcher competencies to meet environmental demands and facilitating co-creation with research end-users and implementing partners.

Supporting Evidence

  • Five specialized academic health science centres were established in the Netherlands to facilitate dementia research utilization.
  • Strategies varied across the Alzheimer Centres based on their organizational heritage and the types of research products.
  • Collaboration with diverse partners was essential for co-creating research agendas and knowledge products.

Takeaway

This study looked at how researchers in Dutch Alzheimer Centres use different strategies to turn dementia research into real-world practices, helping people with dementia.

Methodology

Individual semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 respondents across five Alzheimer Centres in the Netherlands.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to purposive sampling.

Limitations

Purposive sampling may introduce selection bias and limit generalizability; implementation science jargon may have influenced participants' responses.

Participant Demographics

Participants included early-career, mid-career, and senior-career professionals from various disciplines related to dementia research.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/s12961-024-01266-9

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