Employing animation for research knowledge translation

Description of innovation: Research requires translation into practical applications to have impact.1 Arts-based methods are an effective means to facilitate knowledge production, dissemination and inform clinical practice... [ view full abstract ]

Description of innovation: Research requires translation into practical applications to have impact.¹ Arts-based methods are an effective means to facilitate knowledge production, dissemination and inform clinical practice and policy.^2-4 Art can create active interaction with the evidence rather than facilitating abstract reflection^5-7 and individuals benefit from participation in arts-based work.^8-10. This symposium will explore three innovative knowledge translation projects that utilise animation to translate complex empirical research in to accessible information aimed at improving maternity care and women’s experiences.

• Re-Assure (Lead: Nicola Macintosh, Artistic Collaborators: Claire Collinson, Patrick Beirne)

Despite having an innate sense when complications are developing, women can struggle to express their concerns and have them taken seriously by family and professionals.^{11 12} This five-minute animation aims to embolden women to speak up about any concerns they have about their or their baby’s health. It provides tools to help express concerns, and have them taken seriously. This animation has been used by Tommys AlwaysAsk campaign which achieved 250,000 views and 2000 shares in the first four days.

Re-Assure:https://www.kcl.ac.uk/Cultural...

Always Ask: https://www.tommys.org/pregnan...

• Voicing the Silence (Lead: Elsa Montgomery, Artistic collaborator: J Motion)

Many aspects of maternity care can be reminiscent of abuse for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. However, with sensitive care, childbirth can also be healing.^13-15 This powerful work exposes the silence felt by many survivors during maternity care. It is being used to develop a learning package for healthcare professionals.

Voicing the silence: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/Cultural...

• Recreate: Recognition and response to eating disorders (Lead: Abigail Easter, Artistic collaborator: Creative Connection)

Midwives and health visitors require increased knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively support women with eating disorders. ^{16 17} Still in development, this animation aims to remove barriers to effective care for eating disorders in pregnancy by increasing healthcare practitioners’ knowledge and reducing stigma associated with eating disorders in pregnancy.

Discussion:

This symposium will discuss the development and display of each of the animations in turn. Consideration will be paid to the different developmental methods including co-production process and development of scripts and storyboards and product teams involved. The researchers will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the process used, and provide an assessment of the projects to date including the reach, acceptability and impact and unintended consequences that their projects have had. Those attending the symposium will have a better understanding of the process involved in using animations for knowledge transfer. The discussion section will consider the benefits and unintended consequences of this media for knowledge transfer, and ideas from the audience will shape future work. The advantages of using animations for social media campaigns to increase the reach of research to both the public and policy makers will be explored, both from increased reach of messages, and as a way of demonstrating research impact.

Conclusion:

These projects have demonstrated the benefits of animations for effective translation of research evidence. Animation as a method offers scope to change education, policy and practice, by increasing engagement and knowledge, and changing attitudes and behaviour.