Promoting Evidence-Based Practice for Improved Occupational Safety and Health at Workplaces in Sweden. Report on a Practice-Based Research Network Approach

Irene B. Jensen, Elisabeth Björk Brämberg, Charlotte Wåhlin, Christina Björklund, Ulric Hermansson, Malin Lohela Karlson, Liselotte Schäfer Elinder, Peter Munck af Rosenschöld, Tarja Nevala, Ned Carter, Bodil Mellblom and Lydia Kwak
Additional contact information
Irene B. Jensen: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Elisabeth Björk Brämberg: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Charlotte Wåhlin: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Christina Björklund: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Ulric Hermansson: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Malin Lohela Karlson: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Uppsala University and Region Vastmanland—Uppsala University, Centre for Clinical Research, Hospital of Vastmanland Vasteras, 721 89 Vasteras, Sweden
Liselotte Schäfer Elinder: Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet and Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Peter Munck af Rosenschöld: Swedish Association of Occupational Health and Safety, 102 04 Stockholm, Sweden
Tarja Nevala: Swedish Agency for Government Employers, 103 33 Stockholm, Sweden
Ned Carter: Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, 118 82 Stockholm, Sweden
Bodil Mellblom: The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, 114 82 Stockholm, Sweden
Lydia Kwak: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Despite the rapid growth in research and R&D expenditures, the translation of research into practice is limited. One approach to increase the translation and utilization of research is practice based research networks. With the aim of strengthening evidence-based practice (EBP) within occupational health services in Sweden (OH-Services), a practice-based research network (PBRN-OSH) was developed. The PBRN-OSH includes researchers and representatives from end-users. This paper reports on the development, outputs and lessons learned in the PBRN-OSH. The PBRN-OSH resulted in several practice-based research projects as well as different measures to ensure EBP in OSH such as the governmentally sanctioned national guidelines for the OH-services. Moreover, results show that the competence in EBP increased among practitioners at the OH-services. Conducting research in a PBRN is more resource demanding; however, this does not imply that it is less cost effective. To succeed in increasing the utility of research findings via PBRN, resources must be invested into an infrastructure that supports collaboration in the PBRN, including costs for a variety of means of dissemination. Further, translation activities need to be included in academic career paths and reward systems if a major improvement in the impact and return of investments from research is to be expected.

Keywords: occupational health services; practice-based research network; guidelines; workplace interventions; occupational safety and health; implementation research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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