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Table 2 Recommendations for optimising the process of knowledge mobilisation in Communities of Practice

From: Optimising the process of knowledge mobilisation in Communities of Practice: recommendations from a (multi-method) qualitative study

Aims

Recommendations

To create the best environment for knowledge exchange and creation

To create an equitable platform that allows everyone to participate

To support members to navigate (make sense of) the CoP in a flexible way

Pre-Community of Practice

••••••••••••••Establish an infrastructure to provide administrative and wider support to the CoP group and to facilitate meetings. To include a team with a broad skill set to assist with securing necessary funding, organisation (of people and place), technical and digital expertise, project management, regular communication (announcements, news sharing)

••••••••••••••Include a broad, diverse range of stakeholders, including lay contributors (e.g. patients, carers, service users and the public) to provide a breadth and depth of perspectives

••••••••••••••Consider the physical environment (e.g. a neutral meeting venue, provide refreshments) to ensure members feel relaxed and optimise engagement

••••••••••••••Provide the opportunity for pre-CoP support for all members (e.g. preparation work may be required at the beginning to familiarise members with broader aspects of research or implementation (including terminology/language), to provide clarity regarding their potential role within the group, and in understanding potential aims and purpose of the group

••••••••••••••Offer more formal roles (e.g. chair to steering group meetings) to patient and public members

Ongoing

••••••••••••••Consider the agenda and structure of meetings, including member selection for small group work and co-production activities that give members a sense of ownership over the project

••••••••••••••Where possible, by discussion, identify and agree the aims and purpose of the CoP at the outset. If this is not possible, explicitly acknowledge the iterative nature of the CoP process and that the group aims, and purpose will evolve over time

••••••••••••••Consider the varied skill set, knowledge base and expertise that all members offer and recognise that more support may be needed to identify how, when and where patient and public knowledge is applicable to implementation discussions, decisions, and action

••••••••••••••Facilitate relationship building, the integration of stakeholders, and co-production (e.g. by using creative and social strategies for engagement, enhancing partnership working, creating a culture of trust, and empowering members to contribute effectively). Group tasks can harness direction of travel by providing purpose and common ground

••••••••••••••Utilise collaborative facilitation to enable group members to identify and navigate group goals and purpose

••••••••••••••Allow the CoP ‘direction of travel’ to accommodate change and to be flexible and responsive according to context