Nurse engagement in antibiotic time-outs: The collaborative process of leveraging design to disseminate research findings

Introduction: Research findings and knowledge translation are typically disseminated via presentations at professional meetings and publication in peer-review journals. However, other opportunities to translate research evidence into practice exist, including the use of visual cues.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the collaborative process of translating key research findings into a clear and compelling visual communication tool.

Design: As part of a multimodal research dissemination strategy, the researchers partnered with the University Health Communication Design Program faculty to develop a visual communication strategy to promote the use of antibiotic time-outs by nurses in a health system. An environmental poster was identified as an appropriate mode of communication for its potential to convey a message quickly, impactfully, and economically.

Methods: Five-step systematic approach, including feedback from end-users.

Results: To augment our research dissemination strategy, an action-oriented visual communication tool in the form of a 36x48 inch poster was created within four weeks and placed in the work environment. Unit nursing leaders and staff decided on poster locations for maximum nurse engagement with the message.

Conclusion: Creating visual communication to display scientific information is an important skill, but most nurse researchers never receive any formal training that encourages participation in collaborative development of visual communication tools. Our collaboration, was iterative, reflective, and provided a unique opportunity for shared learning. Partnering with health communication designers to expand research reach and impact is invaluable and should be considered as part of a dissemination strategy.

Clinical relevance: Clinical nurses' benefit from 'seeing' the science narrowed to a simple message in order to spark dialogue or remind them what they need to 'do'.