Health Promotion Practice and the Road Ahead: Addressing Enduring Gaps and Encouraging Greater Practice-to-Research Translation

Abstract

A decade ago, Lancaster and Roe described four critical gaps (i.e., communications, accessibility, credibility, and expectations) between research and practice in health education and health promotion that formed the framework for this department. Despite considerable attention and some progress, these gaps persist and are barriers to interaction and translation between health promotion and health education research and practice. Looking to the next several years as the new Associate Editors for this department, we renew the department’s commitment toward addressing these enduring gaps around which we frame new questions and invite continued dialogue.

Keywords

health promotion health research program planning and evaluation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Arrington, B. , Kimmey, J. , Brewster, M. , Bentley, J. , Kane, M. , Van Brunschot, C. , . . . Brownson, R.C. (2008). Building a local agenda for dissemination of research into practice. Journal of Public Health Management Practice, 14, 185-192.

Brownson, R.C. , Fielding, J.E. , & Maylahn, C.M. ( 2009). Evidence-based public health: A fundamental concept for public health practice. Annual Review of Public Health, 30, 175-201.

Glasgow, R.E. ( 2003). Translating research to practice: Lessons learned, areas for improvement, and future directions. Diabetes Care, 26, 2451-2456.

Glasgow, R.E. , & Emmons, K.M. ( 2007). How can we increase translation of research into practice? Types of evidence needed. Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 413-433.

Graham, I.D. , Logan, J. , Harrison, M.B. , Straus, S.H. , Tetroe, J. , Caswell, W. , & Robinson, N. ( 2006). Lost in knowledge translation: Time for a map? Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26, 13-24.

Green, L.W. , Ottoson, J.M. , Garcia, C. , & Hiatt, R.A. ( 2009). Diffusion theory and knowledge dissemination, utilization, and integration in public health. Annual Review of Public Health, 30, 151-174.

Kerner, J.F. ( 2008). Integrating research, practice, and policy: What we see depends on where we stand. Journal of Public Health Management Practice, 14, 193-198.

King, L. , Hawe, P. , & Wise, M. ( 1998). Making dissemination a two-way process. Health Promotion International, 13, 237-244. Lancaster, B. , & Roe , K.M. (2000). Observations of the past decade’s efforts to bridge the gaps between health education and health promotion practice and research. Health Promotion Practice, 1, 33-37.

McAneney, H. , McCann, J.F. , Prior, L. , Wilde, J. , & Kee, F. ( 2010). Translating evidence into practice: A shared priority in public health? Social Science & Medicine, 70, 1492-1500.

10.

Reinhardt, A.C. , & Keller, T. ( 2009). Implementing interdisciplinary practice change in an international health-care organization. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 15, 318-325.

11.

Scharff, D.P. , Rabin, B.A. , Cook, R.A. , Wray, R.J. , & Brownson, R.C. (2008). Bridging research and practice through competency-based public health education. Journal of Public Health Management Practice, 14, 131-137.

12.

Sussman, S. , Valente, T.W. , Rohrbach, L.A. , Skara, S. , & Pentz, M.A. ( 2006). Translation in the health professions: Converting science into action. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 29, 7-32.

13.

Wright, K. , Hann, N. , McLeroy, K.R. , Steckler, A. , Matulionis, R.M. , Auld, M.E. , . . . Weber, D.L. ( 2003). Health education leadership development: A conceptual model and competency framework. Health Promotion Practice , 4, 293-302.