Improving communication between researchers and policy makers in long-term care or "researchers are from Mars; policy makers are from Venus"

Abstract

This policy brief reports the results of a study that examined how policy makers acquire information about long-term care (LTC) and why research findings in the field often don't filter through to them. It describes the "brokers" that provide LTC research information to policy makers and outlines what can be done to make certain such information reaches policy makers and is suited to their needs. It concludes by recommending that more effort be put into disseminating LTC research information, both to communicate more effectively within the resource constraints that currently exist and to encourage increased investment in research brokering activities for the future.