The materials below were created as guides to be used by those interested in creating their own research advisory boards similar to the Bureau of Sages. The documents serve a variety of purposes, including answering how to get a research advisory board off the ground, outlining important things to consider when getting started, charting how to develop meaningful partnerships, providing suggestions for facilitating productive advisory board meetings, and giving tips for training stakeholders. The documents can be used by multiple audiences, including those working to start the research advisory board, guest researchers coming to present to the board, evaluators, and advisory board members. Summaries of each document along with intended audiences and supplementary materials are listed below.
- Elements for Success: Provides an overview of important considerations for building an advisory board, which are also covered in subsequent materials. It outlines elements for success in four stakeholder categories (advisory board members, research organizations/researchers, provider organizations/providers, and research coaches/champions). It may be helpful to refer back to the document to ensure each category is being considered throughout the process.
Intended audience: people starting a research advisory board.
Supplementary documents: Guidelines for Meetings - Orientation Materials: Provides background on the Bureau of Sages, as well as practical tips for new advisory boards regarding group naming and format, recruiting and training research coaches (advisory board facilitators), beginning to work with members, and orienting researchers who seek feedback.
Intended audience: people starting a research advisory board; guest researchers may find some of the materials helpful.
Supplementary documents: Sample brochure - Engagement & Recruitment Tips: Provides general guidelines for identifying and engaging partners and stakeholders, considerations specific to LTSS settings, and recruitment tips. Parts are more applicable to researchers looking to engage stakeholders, but the “recruitment considerations” section could be especially helpful for provider organizations.
Intended audience: people starting a research advisory board. - Guidelines for Researchers: Provides concrete advice for communicating with older adults in group or one-on-one settings. We recommend that anyone involved with an advisory board of older adults review the tips, especially visiting researchers to ensure they are familiar with best practices for communication.
Supplementary documents:- Communication Tips
- Presentation Template
- Researcher biosketch
Intended audience: anyone involved with a research advisory board.
- Facilitation Guides & Agendas: This document is a compilation of guides for facilitating co-learning and productive discussion during advisory board meetings. There are a total of 14 guides that can be used over the course of as many sessions as desired, with suggestions for modification for an 8-week session.
Intended audience: people starting a research advisory board; research coaches; guest researchers may find some of the materials helpful.
Supplementary documents: - Suggested Evaluation Materials: This document consists of a suite of evaluation materials and samples for different types of advisory boards and audiences. All materials are optional and revisable if needed.
Intended audience: people starting an advisory board; research coaches; evaluators; advisory board members; guest researchers.
To see examples of other patient engagement projects and relevant PCOR/CER research findings in the field of aging please follow this link: https://www.pcori.org/research-results?f%5B0%5D=field_project_type%3A298