EvidenceNetwork.ca Workshop on Writing OpEds

1. EvidenceNetwork.ca Workshop on Writing OpEds Gregory Marchildon, University of Regina Jennifer Verma, CHSRF David Secko, Concordia University Erik Landriault, CIHR-IHSPR Annual CAHSPR Conference May 30, 2012

2. Overview • Introduce EvidenceNetwork.ca • Writing a Snappy OpEd • OpEds as a KT vehicle • What are OpEd editors looking for? • Traditional media vs. Online publishers • Beginners’ Inventory of Popular Outlets • YOUR TURN!

4. What does EvidenceNetwork.ca do? • Links journalists with health policy experts to provide access to credible, evidence-based information.

5. Why even bother? • To get your research “out” • To set the record straight • To counter a growing “belief” that is not based on, or even counter to the evidence (myth-busting) • To exercise your “full” citizenship

6. Writing a Snappy OpEd • “Opposite the Editorial Pages” (OpEd) • Key Perimeters: • Focus on a single or few major points/arguments • Succinct (650-750 words) • Timely (newsworthy) • Compelling, convincing and conversational • Draw from strong evidence (noting, research on its own rarely changes minds) • Jargon- and citation-free (but not evidence-free!) • Provide a solution or steps toward a solution (What needs to be done?) along with the key players (Who needs to do it?)

7. OpEds and KT in Funded Research THE LATEST RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WE REALLY SHOULD DO SOMETHING WITH ALL THIS RESEARCH

8. Defining Knowledge Translation (KT) Knowledge translation is about: • Making users aware of knowledge and facilitating their use of it to improve health and health care systems • Closing the gap between what we know and what we do (reducing the know-do gap) • Moving knowledge into action

9. Most Researchers Engage in KT Knowledge Translation is something that most researchers are already doing, to some extent. Researchers who: • publish their research findings • tell other researchers about their work • present their work at conferences ……are engaged in at least one part of the process we call “knowledge translation”: disseminating the results of their work to their peers

10. Why is KT Important? • Consistent evidence of failure to translate research findings into clinical practice: • 30-45% patients do not get treatments of proven effectiveness • 20–25% patients get care that is not needed or potentially harmful (McGlynn et al, 2003; Grol R, 2001; Schuster, McGlynn, Brook, 1998) • Cancer outcomes could be improved by 30% with optimum application of what is currently known • 10% reduction in cancer mortality with widespread use of available therapies (CSCC 2001; Ford et al, 1990)

11. Raising Awareness of New Knowledge A broad spectrum of activities including: • Diffusion (let it happen) • Dissemination (help it happen) • activities that tailor the message and medium to a specific audience • Application(make it happen) • moving research into practice/policy in cases where the strength of evidence is sufficient

12. What are OpEd editors looking for? Some filters that editors use when considering opinion: • Can the writer claim expertise on the topic? • Is the argument refreshing without being perilous to the publication? • Can the argument be connected to current events or news? Alterative structural view: • Starts with a provocative statement; • Provocative statement is contrasted against what is at stake; • Supporting information answers everything that might immediately come to a reader’s mind; • A recap elaborates on the provocative statement.

13. Traditional vs. Online Media? • Multimediality, interactivity and hypertextuality • Blended journalism • Editorial Staff • Authority • Speed • Audience Content + Distribution + Credibility Secko. JPM 10(2&3): 261 (2009)

14. Canadian News Outlets

15. Getting your OpEd Out There! • Connect with news media that report on health (e.g., Globe and Mail, Hamilton Spectator) and publish analyses, opinion and editorial content (e.g., Troy Media, Huffington Post, The Mark) • Put a “Creative Commons” on the content – reprints in small community, rural, niche, ethnic and online media across the country • Remember Grey Literature (e.g., NGO newsletters, websites, magazines) • Get a ‘double run’ by translating

16. YOUR TURN! • Form a team >Pick a theme (4) • Review materials (news article, Mythbusters) • Develop key points for an OpEd • Report back • Compare EvidenceNetwork.ca expert OpEds • Wrap up and closing thoughts

17. EvidenceNetwork.ca Themes Aging Population and its Potential Impact Healthcare Costs and Spending More Care is Not Always Better Health is More than Healthcare Private, For-Profit Solutions to Funding and Delivery Patient Financing of Healthcare (The Patient Pays) Sustainability Waiting for Care

18. Example: User Fees

19. Example: User Fees • News: “Explore all funding options for health care, says outgoing CMA head” (PostmediaNews, Aug 12, 2011) http://www.canada.com/business/Explore+funding+options+health+care+says+outgoing+head/5288501/story.html • Research Summary: “Myth: User Fees Would Stop Waste and Ensure Better Use of the Healthcare System”(CHSRF, 2001) http://www.chsrf.ca/Migrated/PDF/myth4_e.pdf • Op-Ed: “Making patients pay won’t make our health system more affordable” (2011-2012) by RaisaDeber and NoralouRoos, published in the The Toronto Star and The Montréal Gazette http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/4380

20. Choice of Themes for OpEd Exercise (1) Aging and Sustainability

21. Choice of Themes for OpEd Exercise (2) Mammography screening

22. Choice of Themes for OpEd Exercise (3) Activity – based Funding

23. Choice of Themes for OpEd Exercise (4) Generic or Brand Drugs

24. Questions to Guide Your Work • What central focus will your OpEd take? • Is it topical? Does it offer a new angle? How might you open and close the OpEd? • What are your key lines of argument? Facts? • What other research, evidence or sources would you like to consider? • What’s the greatest struggle you face in preparing/publishing this OpEd?

25. Team Report Back • What central focus will your OpEd take? • Is it topical? Does it offer a new angle? How might you open and close the OpEd? • What are your key lines of argument? Facts? • What other research, evidence or sources would you like to consider? • What’s the greatest struggle you face in preparing/publishing this OpEd?

26. EvidenceNetwork.ca Expert OpEds • What central focus did they take? • Is it topical? Does it offer a new angle? How did they open and close the OpEd? • What are their key lines of argument? Facts? • What other research, evidence or sources did they consider? • Other thoughts

27. Visit www.EvidenceNetwork.ca • THANK YOU! • NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

28. For more information: • Population aging and fiscal sustainability • News:“Canada’s aging population will strain the health-care system” (Feb 6, 2012) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/canadas-aging-population-will-strain-the-health-care-system/article2326529/ • Research Summary: “Myth: The Aging Population is to Blame for Uncontrollable Healthcare Costs” (2011) http://www.chsrf.ca/Libraries/Mythbusters/Myth_AgingPopulation_EN_FINAL_1.sflb.ashx • Op-Ed: “We can sustain our health care system—here’s how”(2011-2012) by Neena Chappell, published in the Hill Times, Calgary Herald and the Halifax Chronicle Herald http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/4641

29. For more information: • Mammography screening • News: “Mammography harm 'underappreciated’ Decline in breast cancer deaths from therapy, not screening” (Apr 2, 2012) http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/04/02/mammography-overdiagnosis-breast-cancer.html • Research Summary: “Myth: Early detection is good for everyone” (2006) http://www.chsrf.ca/Migrated/PDF/myth22_e.pdfand “Myth: Whole-body screening is an effective way to detect hidden cancers” (2009) http://www.chsrf.ca/Migrated/PDF/11491_newsletter_en.pdf • Op-Ed: “Small benefits, substantial harms with mammography screening” by Cornelia Baines, published in The National Post and Huffington Post http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/4490

30. For more information: • Activity-based hospital funding • News:“Financer (enfin) les hôpitaux au rendement”(01 mars 2012) http://www.cyberpresse.ca/debats/editoriaux/201202/29/01-4501135-financer-enfin-les-hopitaux-au-rendement.phpand “Activity-based hospital funding: boon or boondoggle?” (May 20, 2008) http://www.cmaj.ca/content/178/11/1407.full.pdf • Research Summary: “Myth: Activity-Based Funding Leads to For-Profit Hospital Care” (2012) http://www.chsrf.ca/Libraries/Mythbusters/Myth-ABF-leads-to-profit-E.sflb.ashx • Op-Ed: “New hospital funding models not without risks” (2012) by Jason Sutherland and M. Trafford Crump, published in the Hill Times and the Calgary Beacon http://beaconnews.ca/calgary/2012/02/why-we-never-seem-to-have-enough-hospital-beds-in-canada/

31. For more information: • Generic vs. Brand drugs • News:“Generic Drugs vs. Brand Name Drugs” (Sept, 2011) http://www.readersdigest.ca/health/sickness-prevention/generic-drugs-vs-brand-name-drugs • Research Summary: “Myth: Generic Drugs are Lower-quality and Less Safe Than Brandname Drugs” (2007) http://www.chsrf.ca/Libraries/Mythbusters/Myth_Generic_drugs_are_lower_quality_EN_FINAL.sflb.ashx • Op-Ed: “Designer drugs: You’re really paying for the name” (2012) by Alan Cassels, published in the Huffington Post and the Hill Times http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/4764 and “The $2-billion extra price tag of brand-name drugs in Canada”and “Our Surprisingly Expensive Pharmaceuticals” (2011) by Marc-André Gagnon, published in the Hill Times and The Mark News (respectively) http://www.themarknews.com/articles/4789-our-surprisingly-expensive-pharmaceuticals