Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance: A Canadian Model to Build Rapid-learning Health Systems

The Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance is a pan-Canadian research initiative designed to promote evidence-informed health policy and practice changes. SPOR Evidence Alliance members prepared a collection of manuscripts to disseminate knowledge about our approach to bridging gaps in the research-to-practice continuum using a multi-pronged approach that includes:

Responding to decision-maker needs for timely scientific knowledge with context-sensitive and high-quality synthesis of information.
Engaging patients, policy-makers, and healthcare providers in the governance of our initiative.
Integrating patients, policy-makers, healthcare providers and other decision-makers in the conduct of all aspects of the research.
Providing learning opportunities to research trainees, early career investigators, patients and other decision-makers.
Advancing the science of knowledge synthesis, guideline development, and knowledge translation using a patient-oriented research lens

Our collection includes four papers covering the following topics:

Introduction: The Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance: A partnership between researchers, patients and health system decision-makers to support rapid-learning and responsive health systems in Canada and beyond.
An Inclusive and Diverse Governance Structure of the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance.
Producing high-quality, purpose-driven and context sensitive research to support health system decision-makers.
Patient Engagement in the SPOR Evidence Alliance: Reflection and Learnings.

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Introducing the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance: a partnership between researchers, patients and health system decision-makers to support rapid-learning and responsive health systems in Canada and beyond
FACETS • Vol. 7 • pp. 639 - 653
This is the introductory paper in a collection of four papers on the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance, a pan-Canadian research initiative that was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in September of 2017. Here, we introduce the SPOR enterprise in Canada, provide a rationale for the creation of the SPOR Evidence Alliance, provide information on the mandate and approach, and describe how the SPOR Evidence Alliance adds to the health research ecosystem in Canada and beyond.
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An inclusive and diverse governance structure of the strategy for patient-oriented research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance
FACETS • Vol. 7 • pp. 435 - 447
The Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance is a research initiative in Canada whose mission is to promote the synthesis, dissemination, and integration of research results into health care and public health decision-making and clinical practice. The aim of this paper is to (i) outline the governance and committee structure of the SPOR Evidence Alliance, (ii) outline the procedures for patient and health system decision-maker engagement, and (iii) present the capacity-building strategy for governance members. The governance structure includes the following six standing committees: the International Advisory Committee, Steering Committee, Executive Committee, Knowledge Translation Committee, Partnerships Committee, and Training and Capacity Development Committee. The guiding principles embrace inclusiveness, support, mutual respect, transparency, and co-building. There are currently 64 committee members across the six committees, 13 patient and public partners, 8 health system decision-makers, 7 research trainees, and 36 researchers. A multi-disciplinary and diverse group of people in Canada are represented from all regions and at various levels of training in knowledge generation, exchange, and translation. This collaborative model makes the SPOR Evidence Alliance strong and sustainable by leveraging the knowledge, lived experiences, expertise, skills, and networks among its 342 members and 12 principal investigators.
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A Canadian model for providing high-quality, timely and relevant evidence to meet health system decision-maker needs: the SPOR Evidence Alliance
FACETS • Vol. 7 • pp. 420 - 434
Canada has made great progress in synthesizing, disseminating, and integrating research findings into health systems and clinical decision-making; yet gaps exist in the research-to-practice continuum. The Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance aims to help close gaps by providing decision-makers with evidence that is timely, context sensitive, and demand driven to better inform patient-oriented practices and policies in health systems. In this article, we introduce a model established in Canada to support decision-maker needs for high-quality evidence that is patient oriented to enhance health systems performance. We provide an overview of how this model was implemented, who is involved, who it serves, as well as its organizational structure and remit. We discuss key milestones achieved to date and the impact this initiative has made within the health research community. The strength of the SPOR Evidence Alliance lies in its unique ability to simultaneously: (i) serve as a national platform for researchers to stay connected and collaborate to minimize duplication of efforts and (ii) facilitate access to research knowledge for patient partners and decision-makers. In doing so, the SPOR Evidence Alliance is supporting health policy and practice decisions that support and strengthen Canada’s dynamic health systems.
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Patient engagement in the SPOR Evidence Alliance: Reflection and learnings
FACETS • Vol. 7 • pp. 126 - 138
The Evidence Alliance (EA) is a Canada-wide multi-stakeholder organization providing national-level support in knowledge synthesis, clinical practice guidelines development, and knowledge translation. With a mandate to deliver the best available evidence to inform health policy and improve patient care, the EA involves patients and their caregivers in its governance, research priority setting and conduct, and capacity building. To reflect on the experiences of patient involvement in its first three years, the organization conducted a self-study with 17 actively involved patient partners. They answered the Patient Engagement in Research Scale 22-item short form (PEIRS-22) and open-ended questions. Of the 15 respondents, 12 were women with a mean age of 62.6 years (SD 10.1). The mean PEIRS-22 score was 82.1 (SD 15.9), indicating perceived meaningful engagement. Analysis of the free-text answers identified three themes: (i) communication: successes, changes, and improvements; (ii) a respectful and welcoming environment; and (iii) opportunities to learn and contribute. Patient partners noted the EA made genuine efforts to welcome them and value their contributions. They also identified a need for the organization to increase patient partner diversity. This self-study was perceived as rewarding as it provided a foundation for further growth in patient involvement within the organization.

Curators

Dr. Andrea C. Tricco

Guest Editor

Ms. Wasifa Zarin

Guest Editor

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