286 9 Chapter 9 TAKE HOME MESSAGES | THEME 4 • Evaluation of eHealth should be considered a continuous process and include formative (i.e., to gain understanding for improvements) and summative (i.e., to measure performance or specific endpoints) evaluation moments. • Researchers should be mindful of specific challenges related to eHealth (i.e., multicomponent, difficult to standardize and replicate across settings) that make RCTs less suitable for evaluating the effectiveness of eHealth and consider alternative designs. • Pooling of effects of complex health interventions to give an overall estimate of effect is challenged by heterogeneity of the interventions and complicated by interaction between intervention components and contextual factors. • Collecting qualitative data alongside quantitative data is essential for evaluating eHealth interventions. Qualitative data provides valuable insights into the human experience, contextual information, and deeper understanding of observed outcomes. THEME 5 EFFECTIVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETAL IMPACT Transferring knowledge on for example evidence on effectiveness of eHealth is essential to benefit patients and impact society as a whole. However, a substantial gap exists between knowledge and practice (Challenge five, General introduction). Science communication plays a vital role in bridging this gap by communicating complex scientific knowledge in an accessible way, thereby promoting understanding, facilitating engagement between public and scientists, and fostering informed decision-making based on evidence (54). These are prerequisites in creating societal impact (55). Science communication also plays a significant role in building trust in science, fostering open dialogue and countering misinformation (56). The process of translating knowledge, as discussed in chapter 8, is pivotal for effective science communication to the public. Knowledge translation and dissemination is complex and entails many distinct aspects (i.e., knowledge synthesis, creation, dissemination, exchange, and application). In chapter 8 we focused on the knowledge creation process and provided a systematic approach to facilitate effective knowledge creation in healthcare. By offering a step-by-step approach we help academics in navigating the complex process of translating research evidence in practice or policy. This approach facilitates evidence-informed decision-making, enhances the uptake of research findings, and ultimately leads to societal impact. It is particularly relevant that academics have the right tools at their disposal, as they are increasingly expected to disseminate their research findings outside the scientific community and engage in societal impact. However, translating research knowledge into societal impact requires skills, experience, and practices that are often absent from doctoral programs and academic discourse (57, 58).
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