Where on Earth are Evidence Stories

The Comings of the Two Rivers: Increasing Access to Research Evidence through Storytelling for a Brighter Future

Where on Earth are Evidence Stories

Lives touched
Funding
Communities

Project Info

Project Title: The Comings of the Two Rivers: Increasing Access to Research Evidence through Storytelling for a Brighter Future

Lead Organization: eBASE Africa

Partners: JBI, JBIC

Geographic Coverage: Cameroon, Thailand, Iran, Brazil 

Core Problem: Research evidence remains inaccessible to communities despite being freely available, due to scientific jargon, paywalls, English-only publications, and low literacy rates.

Solution: Use storytelling to translate complex research into engaging, relatable content that empowers communities to make informed decisions.

Project Background

Organizations like JBI, Cochrane, and Campbell have generated and synthesized substantial evidence, often available free of charge to low- and middle-income countries. However, research evidence remains largely inaccessible to the public due to:

  • Complexity of scientific jargon
  • Paywalls
  • Predominance of English language publications
  • Low literacy rates

While efforts have been made to translate research into policy, little has been done to make evidence directly accessible to communities and individuals, contributing to widening knowledge asymmetry. Storytelling offers a unique approach to bridge this gap by translating complex information into engaging, relatable stories, fostering understanding, empowerment, and informed decision-making.

Project Objectives

  1. Increase access to research evidence through storytelling
  2. Build capacity for evidence synthesis in LMICs
  3. Train systematic reviewers and storytellers
  4. Reduce knowledge asymmetry between clinicians and patients
  5. Improve patient outcomes through evidence-informed storytelling
  6. Foster cross-country collaboration among JBIC partners
  7. Reduce research waste by utilizing existing systematic reviews
  8. Innovate JBI methods through the Evidence to Stories (EtS) Framework

 

Project Implementation

Implementation Activities

Capacity Building:

  • Identify stakeholders (policymakers, clinicians, researchers, patients)
  • Select 25 participants for systematic review training and 25 for storytelling training
  • Set up governance structure considering gender, language, and diversity
  • Develop/adapt training modules in multiple languages (including French and Portuguese)
  • Organize one hybrid CSRT workshop in Cameroon (25 participants)
  • Organize hybrid storytelling workshop for JBIC partners in Thailand, Iran, and Brazil

Evidence Synthesis:

  • Form team from CSRT program to conduct systematic reviews using JBI methods
  • Conduct searches, screenings, and data extraction with SUMARI
  • Author systematic reviews using JBI approach
  • Develop and submit systematic review reports to JBI
  • Publish in JBI Evidence Synthesis Journal

Storytelling Development:

  • Work with stakeholders to identify priority storytelling topics
  • Identify 15 high-impact JBI reviews related to these topics
  • Conduct community diagnosis using the Transtheoretical Model of Change
  • Create content incorporating behavior change techniques and JBI methods
  • Co-create stories based on evidence and community input
  • Disseminate knowledge through storytelling

 

 

Project Evaluation

OUTCOMES


Capacity Development:

  • 25 new multilingual systematic reviewers trained on evidence synthesis in LMICs
  • Increased capacity in LMICs through storytelling workshops training JBIC partners
  • Better language inclusion: 5 non-English languages used in JBI methods


Research Outputs:

  • 3 systematic reviews published using JBI methods (including methods publication)
  • Greater use of JBI methods in at least 3 systematic reviews integrated into storytelling
  • Innovation in JBI methods through the EtS framework

Knowledge Translation & Reach:

  • 5,000 people will listen to the stories
  • Improved knowledge symmetry: storytelling will increase patients' knowledge of evidence-based interventions more than clinicians
  • Less research waste: storytelling will mainly use existing systematic reviews, reducing redundant research

Collaboration:

  • More collaboration: JBIC partners working together across countries and regions

Impact:

  • Improved patient outcomes: clinicians will make more evidence-based decisions, community members will make more informed choices
  • Patient outcomes will improve by at least 5% in Cameroon
  • Contribute to at least 10% better workplace culture through storytelling-based leadership for JBI clinical fellows
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