title: The Quebec rural emergency department project: a cross-sectional study of a potential two-pronged strategy in the knowledge transfer process.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health services research generates useful knowledge. Promotion of implementation of this knowledge in medical practice is essential. Prior to initiation of a major study on rural emergency departments (EDs), we deployed two knowledge transfer strategies designed to generate interest and engagement from potential knowledge users. The objective of this paper was to review: 1) a combined project launch and media press release strategy, and 2) a pre-study survey designed to survey potential knowledge users' opinions on the proposed study variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the impact of the project launch (presentation at two conferences hosted by key stakeholders) and media press release via a survey of participants/stakeholders and by calculating the number of media interview requests and reports generated. We used a pre-study survey to collect potential key stakeholder' opinions on the study variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one of Quebec's 26 rural EDs participated in the pre-study survey (81% participation rate). The press release about the study generated 51 press articles and 20 media request for interviews, and contributed to public awareness of a major rural research initiative. In the pre-study survey, thirteen participants (46%) mentioned prior knowledge of the research project. Results from the pre-study survey revealed that all of the potential study variables were considered to be relevant for inclusion in the research project. Respondents also proposed additional variables of interest, including factors promoting retention of human resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated the potential utility of a two-pronged knowledge transfer strategy, including a combined formal launch and press release, and a pre-study survey designed to ensure that the included variables were of interest to participants and stakeholders.
authors: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval; Québec, QC, Canada; Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Laval University-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital; Lévis City, QC, Canada.
authors: Mélodie-Anne
authors: MA
authors: Drouin
authors: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval; Québec, QC, Canada; Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Laval University-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital; Lévis City, QC, Canada.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Fleet
authors: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval; Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Poitras
authors: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval; Québec, QC, Canada; Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Laval University-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital; Lévis City, QC, Canada.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Archambault
authors: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université de Montréal; Department of Emergency Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors: Jean-Marc
authors: JM
authors: Chauny
authors: Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity of the University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Jean-Frédéric
authors: JF
authors: Lévesque
authors: Département de science politique, Pavillon Charles-De Koninck, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Ouimet
authors: Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Dupuis
authors: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval; Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Tanguay
authors: Departement of Emergency Medicine, CSSS de La Matapédia, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Geneviève
authors: G
authors: Simard-Racine
authors: Direction de l'analyse et de l'évaluation des systèmes de soins et services, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC, Canada.
authors: Josée
authors: J
authors: Gauthier
authors: Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Laval University-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital; Lévis City, QC, Canada.
authors: Fatoumata Korika
authors: FK
authors: Tounkara
authors: Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Laval University-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital; Lévis City, QC, Canada.
authors: Marie-Hélène
authors: MH
authors: Gilbert
authors: Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Knowledge Transfer and Health Technology Assessment of the CHUQ Research Centre (CRCHUQ), Unité de Recherche Évaluative, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: France
authors: F
authors: Légaré
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D051188:Knowledge Bases; D011792:Quebec; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce