Identifying relevant stakeholders and hearing their perspectives are fundamental steps in effective health promotion and decision-making. I used Bartholomew Eldredge et al.'s (2016) template below with comprehensive questions to consider when identifying and recruiting stakeholders in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion action to address epilepsy self-management.
Expertise in the health problem or its causes
Who has content knowledge relative to the health problem or its causes? Neurologists, epileptologists, neurophysiology technologists, and nurses in the Seizure Investigation Unit. What disciplines can be most helpful in describing problems from an ecological perspective? Neurology, EEG department, nursing, social work, occupational therapy. Who knows about similar problems? Supporting other cognitive disabilities and impairments. Who is well respected for knowledge of this health problem or others like it? Epileptologists.
Who has worked on a similar needs assessment or program? Epilepsy researchers in Montreal.
Diverse perspectives and community participation
Who has needs and perspectives related to the problem? People with epilepsy and their caregivers, epilepsy organizations such as BC Epilepsy Society, relevant healthcare professionals such as neurophysiology technologists and epileptologists, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Ministry of Health or local health departments. When programs are developed related to the needs and problems, who are the potential clients, participants, or beneficiaries? People with epilepsy and their caregivers. Who already works with potential beneficiaries? Epileptologists and other healthcare professionals. Who can help the planning group clarify values related to the needs assessment and intervention development? People with epilepsy and their caregivers, qualified healthcare professionals in the Seizure Investigation Unit.
Who are the potential critics of the program or initiative? People wanting virtual care solutions or need remote access.
Responsibility and authority
Who will manage the needs assessment and program development? Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Who is the funder? Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Who can become a partner in the assessment and program development? BC Epilepsy Society.
Who can bring resources to the endeavor? Healthcare professionals, epilepsy organization and advocacy groups.
Influence
Who has served as a resource to community members for this problem or related ones? Epilepsy organizations such as BC Epilepsy Society (e.g., online resources, support groups, and advocacy work), local neurologists and epileptologists, epilepsy clinics and hospitals. What policy makers have worked on this type of problem? Ministry of Health, BC Health Authorities, and Members of the Legislative Assembly who advocate for policies and funding to support epilepsy health promotion and services in their respective constituencies. Who are opinion leaders who might have an interest in this type of problem? Patient advocates, medical professionals, researchers and academics, epilepsy organizations, public figures with known epilepsy, government agencies and policy makers, researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Who can help the planning team access expertise and other resources of the community? Epilepsy organizations such as BC Epilepsy Society, relevant healthcare professionals such as neurophysiology technologists and epileptologists, social media managers for health authorities, Ministry of Health or local health departments (for data, guidelines, and relevant contacts).
Who can garner support and buy-in to the project? Patients and families, media and public figures, epilepsy organizations and advocacy groups.
Commitment to the issue
Who will want to help the needs assessment team develop and disseminate its conclusions? Nurses, epileptologists, and neurophysiology technologists in the Seizure Investigation Unit. Who might advocate for the assessment and intervention development? People with epilepsy and their caregivers, healthcare professionals, BC Epilepsy Society and other epilepsy organizations or advocacy groups. Who has been working on the problem from a practice perspective? Clinical Educator in Nursing at Vancouver General Hospital. Gap in not having a Clinical Educator role in Electroneurophysiology (for diagnostic technologists). Who has been working on the problem from a research perspective? Epileptologists (starting to initiate research projects at Vancouver General Hospital), researchers at UBC, SFU, and other academic institutions.
Who could bring creative energy to the project? Social media experts and public figures with a connection to epilepsy.
Bartholomew Eldredge, L. K., Markham, C. M., Ruiter, R. A. C., Fernández, M. E., Kok, G., & Parcel, G. S. (2016). Planning health promotion programs: An intervention mapping approach. John Wiley & Sons.
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