Papadaki A, Willis P, Armstrong MEG, Cameron A. From Research to Knowledge Translation: Co-Producing Resources to Raise Awareness of Meals on Wheels in England.
Health Expect 2024;
27:e14106. [PMID:
38872455 PMCID:
PMC11176567 DOI:
10.1111/hex.14106]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Meals on Wheels (MoWs) could help adults with care and support needs continue living independently. However, many people are not aware that the service still exists in England, or that it could provide benefits beyond nutrition.
OBJECTIVE
Working with an existing advisory group of six people with lived experience of MoWs (an adult who uses MoWs and people who have referred a family member to MoWs), this work aimed to co-produce knowledge translation resources (two infographics and a film) to raise awareness of MoWs and their benefits.
METHODS
Four participatory online workshops were held in May-July 2023, to establish perceived high-priority themes from recent qualitative research that should be included in the resources, and preferences about message content, language, design, and how the resources should be disseminated.
FINDINGS
The most important perceived MoWs benefits that the group agreed should be included in the resources were: the importance of a nutritious meal that requires no preparation; the service's reliability/consistency; the importance of interactions in reducing social isolation, and; the ease to commence the service. The group highlighted the need for language to be nontechnical and invitational, and for images to relate to respective messages, and be inclusive of anyone who could benefit from MoWs. Several routes for dissemination were proposed, highlighting the need to disseminate to the NHS, social care organisations and community groups.
CONCLUSION
These co-produced resources could enhance adult social care delivery in England, as raising awareness of MoWs and their benefits could increase referral rates, so that more adults with care and support needs can benefit from the service.
PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
An advisory group of people with lived experience of MoWs (users of the service and family referrers) participated in the workshops, extensively discussed the findings of earlier research, co-produced the knowledge translation resources, and advised on the implications and future dissemination steps. The group also provided informal feedback on a draft of this manuscript.
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