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. 2025 Jul 7:11:20552076251357396.
doi: 10.1177/20552076251357396. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.

Exploration for a knowledge translation model in public dissemination via social media: Insights from an innovative Cochrane evidence dissemination competition in China

Yifei Song  1   2 , Yusi Suo  1 , Huikai Hu  1   3 , Judith Deppe  4 , Yanling Shen  1   5 , Duanhong Yang  1 , Ruoying Cai  1   6 , Xuefeng Wang  1 , Jin Zhang  7 , Yutong Fei  1 , Jianping Liu  1 , Xun Li  1
Affiliations

Exploration for a knowledge translation model in public dissemination via social media: Insights from an innovative Cochrane evidence dissemination competition in China

Yifei Song et al. Digit Health. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to present and evaluate an innovative evidence dissemination competition based on Cochrane evidence through participants' perceptions, barriers, and feedback about evidence dissemination.

Methods: We evaluated competition participation, the submissions and their dissemination on social media. An online questionnaire was also conducted to analyze participants' perceptions, barriers, and feedback about the competition and evidence dissemination. Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS (26.0) were used to analyze the data.

Results: A total of 80 text-graphics and 14 short videos submissions in 10 dissemination formats were created by 173 participants. Once disseminated on WeChat, submissions received considerable attention. Questionnaires received revealed the most chosen motivations for participation in personal skills development, including "furthering studies in EBM" (60.7%, 105/173). Previous works (64.2%, 108/173) and social media information (53.2%, 92/173) were the main sources of inspiration. Lack of knowledge in clinical trials was the most prevalent barriers. Only few participants (medical background: 12.9%, nonmedical background: 18.3%) could understand the original English version without translation. Suggested improvement for the competition included "increase competition impact," while expectations for future evidence dissemination included "disseminate through more social media platforms."

Conclusions: The third Cochrane Dissemination Competition provided a valuable opportunity for participants to demonstrate their creativity while deepening their understanding of medical evidence, representing a successful attempt to disseminate high-quality Cochrane evidence to the public via Chinese social media. Key elements identified provide valuable insights for evidence dissemination to the public by health professionals via social media.

Keywords: Knowledge translation; evidence dissemination; public health; social media; surveys and questionnaires.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Overview of the third Cochrane evidence dissemination competition.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Case study process.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Participants’ reasons for competition participation (choose top 3 reasons).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Dissemination formats distribution of submissions.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
(A) Means to be informed about medical evidence in daily work (choose top 3). (B) Most frequently used online platforms for medical evidence acquisition.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
(A) Difficulties in acquiring and understanding Cochrane evidence. (B) Perceived barriers in acquiring and understanding Cochrane evidence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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