What About Dissemination Science? Practical Recommendations for the Clinical Researcher in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Abstract

Purpose: This article presents a viewpoint highlighting the importance of dissemination science in communication sciences and disorders (CSD), with special emphasis on the beneficial application of a dissemination model, Everett Rogers's diffusion of innovation (DoI). Additionally, we provide the clinical researcher with practical recommendations to promote dissemination.

Method: We begin with a discussion on dissemination and implementation science specific to the CSD literature. Next, we introduce the reader to Rogers's DoI and describe the five characteristics of an innovation. Using the key tenets offered in his model, we provide recommendations on the development, production, and dissemination of research for the clinical researcher, with important input from a clinician's perspective.

Results: Clinical researchers should consider the characteristics of an innovation at the start of their research to help improve dissemination of research and ultimately reduce the research-to-practice gap.

Conclusions: Dissemination science, although often forgotten about, is an important piece of the research-to-practice gap puzzle. Rogers's DoI is an appropriate model to apply to research in CSD given its application in several related fields. Broadly, additional applications of dissemination science in CSD are warranted as well as investigations into the various communication channels that successfully reach speech-language pathologists.