Communities of Practice (CoP) - a public health tool for facilitating implementation of research into practice for a falls prevention exercise intervention; an ethnographic study

Orton, E; Alderman, V; Carpenter, H; Coupland, C; Gladman, J; Iliffe, S; Kendrick, D; Lafond, N; Logan, P; Okereke, U; Skelton, D; Masud, T; Timmons, S

Abstract

Introduction
In public health there is often a disconnect in translating research into practice.
The Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme is an evidence-based exercise programme aimed at reducing falls in older adults. Whilst recommended as cost-effective by expert bodies, availability of and fidelity to the FaME programme remains inconsistent across England. This paper examines the role of communities of practice (CoPs) as a tool enabling the translation of FaME from research into practice.
Study design
Ethnographic study investigating the evolution of a CoP.
Methods
Qualitative analysis of CoP observations and semi-structured interviews, focussing on the creation and evolution of the CoP to support implementation of FaME. The project lasted three years. Data on CoPs were collected from three sources: video recordings of meetings, in-depth interviews with participants of the CoP and content analysis of formal meeting documents.
Results
We found this CoP was functional in a complex environment where commissioning and provision of FaME cut across public sector organisations. It evolved organically over time to support different elements of the delivery of FaME and help maintain its fidelity.
Discussion
CoPs can be a facilitative tool for translation of research into practice and for maintaining programme fidelity. This study provides evidence of the useful nature of CoPs as a public health management tool for the delivery of public health interventions (a community falls management exercise (FaME) intervention for older adults).

Citation

Orton, E., Alderman, V., Carpenter, H., Coupland, C., Gladman, J., Iliffe, S., Kendrick, D., Lafond, N., Logan, P., Okereke, U., Skelton, D., Masud, T., & Timmons, S. (2024). Communities of Practice (CoP) - a public health tool for facilitating implementation of research into practice for a falls prevention exercise intervention; an ethnographic study

• Working Paper Type: Working Paper
• Publication Date: 2024-11
• Deposit Date: Nov 28, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 12, 2024
• Series Title: East Midlands Research into Ageing Network (EMRAN) Discussion Paper Series Communities of Practice (CoP) -a public health tool for facilitating implementation of research into practice for a falls prevention exercise intervention; an ethnographic study
• Series Number: 54
• Series ISSN: 2059-3341
• Keywords: Communities of practice, ethnography, health care, public services, public health, interventions
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/42479390
• Additional Information: East Midlands Research into Ageing Network (EMRAN) is a research collaboration across the East Midlands to facilitate applied research into ageing and the care of older people.