BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health Policy
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1593920
This article is part of the Research TopicImpact Evaluation using the Translational Science Benefits Model Framework in the National Center for Advancing Translational Science Clinical and Translational Science Award ProgramView all 8 articles
Leveraging the Translational Science Benefits Model to Enhance Planning and Evaluation of Impact in CTSA Hub-Supported Research
Provisionally accepted
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, United States
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Introduction: Increasingly, the public, policymakers, and funders expect clinical research to show tangible effects on public-health. However, assessing research impact is challenging. Most researchers are not trained to consider the broad-ranging impacts of their work. The TSBM is a conceptual-framework that includes four-domains of impact: clinical, community, economic, and policy. We assess the utility and acceptability of using a survey based on the TSBM as a means to help researchers identify their potential research impacts. Methods: CTSA program-supported investigators self-reported the potential benefits of their research projects in an electronic survey based-on the TSBM. Responses were reviewed and scored by program-evaluators. Survey acceptability was measured by response and completion rates; utility was measured by comparing benefits identified in the survey but not described in the researcher’s grant application; and quality was measured by the degree of congruence between investigators’ responses and evaluators’ determinations regarding the potential benefits of the research. Results: Of the investigators invited to participate, 67% completed the survey. Half of the investigators identified at least one-benefit from their research not described in their research proposals. The rate-of-agreement across all responses between the investigators and the evaluators was 60%. Discussion: Our study showed that a survey based on the TSBM was an acceptable and useful tool to help investigators identify research-impact. However, our work also suggested that there are opportunities to educate investigators especially about the long-term, broad-reaching effects of their work. Ultimately, this work may help researchers conceptualize and realize the public health impact of their research.
Keywords: Research Impact, Evaluation, translational science, CTSA, impact evaluation models, Translational Science Benefits Model
Received: 14 Mar 2025; Accepted: 21 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Molzhon, Dillon and DiazGranados. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Deborah DiazGranados, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.