Breaking Barriers in Scientific Dissemination: Preliminary Results of the Interactive Infographic Summaries to Share International Palliative Care Projects.

Background

International research projects, such as Horizon 2020 (H2020) and ERASMUS+, generate numerous scientific and educational outcomes. However, these are often disseminated in fragmented formats, limiting long-term access and impact. Language barriers further complicate the dissemination in professional communities that do not speak English. Interactive infographic summaries (IISs) offer an innovative solution to these challenges.

Objectives

To describe the development of the IIS as a tool to present key findings from three European palliative care projects and the preliminary results of the dissemination.

Methods

The IISs developed for three European projects (H2020 Palliative Sedation, ERASMUS+ Research for Palliative Care Clinicians [RESPACC], and ERASMUS+ E-Learning on Palliative Care for International Students [ELPIS]) were selected. These documents were designed using visual communication principles and included interactive elements, such as links to additional resources (videos, articles, and tools). The infographics were translated into multiple languages, and their effectiveness was evaluated based on web traffic, downloads, and readers' feedback.

Results

The infographics in 11 languages were shared via project websites, online repositories, and social media. The H2020 Palliative Sedation infographic reached thousands of downloads. The RESPACC infographic allowed free access to research tools in four languages. The ELPIS infographic showcased seven educational projects and was published by all participating universities.

Conclusions

IISs facilitate the dissemination of an extensive body of complex scientific information, overcoming barriers of fragmentation and language. They should be considered an essential component in future projects for broadening accessibility and engagement with research findings in palliative care.