Partnership with consumers to improve research dissemination

Evidence-based treatments are often poorly integrated into community care because of challenges with research dissemination and implementation. This article reviews barriers to research dissemination and strategies to encourage active dissemination. The growing role of consumers in healthcare are highlighted, along with potential benefits of expanding their role in the dissemination process. The concept of patient-centered research is reviewed along with strategies to develop a meaningful partnership with consumers to improve research. We provide an example of lessons learned from a consumer-researcher partnership in research, and make recommendations about how to strengthen this type of collaboration.