This project draws on both in-person exchanges and information and communication technology (ICT) in an effort to improve health research communications - especially in the area of health issues which are neglected, contested, and difficult to talk about. The strategy rests on the conviction that it is not enough simply to publish high quality research on sexual health and HIV; the challenge is to ensure that clinicians act on the research findings and that this action in turn improves health outcomes. In an effort to ensure the uptake of evidence, SHHEP is emphasising increased reflection and experimentation with research communication techniques in order to enable academics to be strategic about the tools they use to reach particular audiences.

Specifically, SHHEP has engaged in interviews with researchers, communication specialists, and other stakeholders. This process culminated in a 2-day international workshop at LSTM in May 2009 which was designed to provide an opportunity to exchange learning on communicating research findings for policy and practice. Meeting participants - including researchers, communications experts, activists, and DFID staff members from around the world - presented case studies to illustrate the types of engagement that have been prompted by their research. Some tracked policy impacts; others presented the communication strategies they have used and described the strengths and challenges involved.

The findings from the project are available in an issue of insights, a brief of main learning from the workshop [PDF], and a series of YouTube videos (scroll to the bottom of the page). In brief, this work has highlighted the importance of:

• Undertaking reflective assessments of the policy relevance of research evidence, its scope and limitations, and the ethical implications of communicating the research;
• Carrying out strategic scoping of opportunities and levers for influence through analysis of the policy context, actors, and processes, including the political or cultural acceptability of the research findings;
• Assessing the nature of the research evidence and consulting with other key actors on how best to frame it in ways that increase local decision-makers' receptivity;
• Keeping communications strategies flexible and relevant to partners' objectives to keep them effective; and
• Using creative and innovative techniques, without jargon, to make the communications work less alien or off-putting for researchers.

Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS.

An excerpt from "Getting Research into Policy and Practice: Experiences from Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS" (by Jo Crichton and Sally Theobald, insights, October 2009): "The true test of the effectiveness of health and development research is whether people use it - for decision-making, influencing, referencing, or most importantly, to bring about change....Ensuring that research findings impact on policy and practice can be challenging and time-consuming. It requires careful consultation, negotiation and partnership building. Policy engagement is not just about communicating results. It is about communicating and building partnerships at all stages of the research process, during project design, fieldwork and analysis as well as at the end. It can also be about contributing to longer-term social processes, such as changing attitudes to sexual rights. This takes time and energy but is a necessary investment: the growing attention on the research-to-policy-and-practice interface will continue to gather momentum. There is a need to continue to build the capacity of everyone involved - individuals and communities, policymakers, researchers, and intermediaries - to engage with research-to-policy processes and to increase the funding available to take this work forward and further share experiences of what works, what does not and why."

The work of the SHHEP Group has been shortlisted for a British Medical Journal (BMJ) award in the Getting Research into Practice category.