title: The use of conferencing technologies to support drug policy group knowledge exchange processes: an action case approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe experiences, lessons and the implications related to the use of conferencing technology to support three drug policy research groups within a three-year period, using the action case research method.
  
  
  METHODS
  An action case research field study was executed. Three different drug policy groups participated: research, educator, and decision-maker task groups. There were a total of 61 participants in the study. The study was conducted between 2004 and 2007. Each group used audio-teleconferencing, web-conferencing or both to support their knowledge exchange activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected over three years and consisted of observation notes, interviews, and meeting transcripts. Content analysis was used to analyze the data using NIVIO qualitative data analysis software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found six key lessons regarding the impact of conferencing technologies on knowledge exchange within drug policy groups. We found that 1) groups adapt to technology to facilitate group communication, 2) web-conferencing communication is optimal under certain conditions, 3) audio conferencing is convenient, 4) web-conferencing forces group interactions to be "within text", 5) facilitation contributes to successful knowledge exchange, and 6) technology impacts information sharing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights lessons related to the use of conferencing technologies to support distant knowledge exchange within drug policy groups. Key lessons from this study can be used by drug policy groups to support successful knowledge exchange activities using conferencing technologies.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. househmo@ngha.med.sa
authors.forename: Mowafa Said
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Househ
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kushniruk
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maclure
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carleton
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cloutier-Fisher
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D038622:Internationality; D020407:Internet; D051188:Knowledge Bases; D019212:Multimedia; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000458:organization & administration*