title: A research and evaluation capacity building model in Western Australia.
abstract: Evaluation of public health programs, services and policies is increasingly required to demonstrate effectiveness. Funding constraints necessitate that existing programs, services and policies be evaluated and their findings disseminated. Evidence-informed practice and policy is also desirable to maximise investments in public health. Partnerships between public health researchers, service providers and policymakers can help address evaluation knowledge and skills gaps. The Western Australian Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN) aims to build research and evaluation capacity in the sexual health and blood-borne virus sector in Western Australia (WA). Partners' perspectives of the SiREN model after 2 years were explored. Qualitative written responses from service providers, policymakers and researchers about the SiREN model were analysed thematically. Service providers reported that participation in SiREN prompted them to consider evaluation earlier in the planning process and increased their appreciation of the value of evaluation. Policymakers noted benefits of the model in generating local evidence and highlighting local issues of importance for consideration at a national level. Researchers identified challenges communicating the services available through SiREN and the time investment needed to develop effective collaborative partnerships. Stronger engagement between public health researchers, service providers and policymakers through collaborative partnerships has the potential to improve evidence generation and evidence translation. These outcomes require long-term funding and commitment from all partners to develop and maintain partnerships. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation can ensure the partnership remains responsive to the needs of key stakeholders. The findings are applicable to many sectors.
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Roanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallett
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Western Australian Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Western Australian Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia.|School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Donna B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Jonine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jancey
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis WA, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rowell
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Kahlia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCausland
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Western Australian Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.affiliation: Southern Edge Arts, Albany, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorenson
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: P J Matt
authors.initials: PJM
authors.lastname: Tilley
authors.affiliation: Western Australian AIDS Council, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Comfort
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Western Australian Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D057191:Capacity Building; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012106:Research; D000074384:Sexual Health; D014766:Viremia; D014904:Western Australia