From advocacy to dissemination: lessons from a French initiative to promote experiential knowledge

ISSUE: Health Promotion (HP) practitioners hold experiential knowledge (EK) relevant to tackle core issues (implementation design, innovation, context-specific dissemination) and improve professional practices. Promoting ways to build up and share EK has been the mission of a multidisciplinary French coalition of HP specialists, policymakers, practitioners and researchers. After drafting an advocacy plan and designing a method for capitalizing, collecting and circulating EK on HP interventions (2016-2020), the Committee to promote EKHP (CEKHP) focused on disseminating capitalization skills in the workforce (2020-2023). SECOND PHASE: To mobilize for EKHP, we followed a 3-part strategy. 1/ Members of CEKPH tested out capitalization projects, to make proof of concept and identify necessary levers to put the method into practice (project design, financing, etc.). 2/ We created in 2021 a training program to gain skills to design EKHP projects. 3/ We built spaces to increase recognition and access to EKHP works. RESULTS: We launched in May 2022 a website: the national EKHP resource center (www.capitalisationsante.fr). More than 100 works are now published, including works from the starter projects which helped refine the method, attracting 15 000+ visitors in the first year. 150+ practitioners have been trained so far, through a program offered at the National School for Public Health in adult learning sessions and in a master's degree, also available to organizations wishing to adopt EKHP practices. To keep amplify the initiative, new members joined the initial coalition. We debuted in 2023 a community of practice to support a network of trained practitioners. NEXT STEPS: Both building up and accessing EKHP meet a high level of interest. We launched a survey to track the uses of EKHP publications (transfer, innovation, etc.). Advocacy for EKHP continues: we must rally more support from local health authorities, to sustain wide range EKHP adoption and secure necessary funding. KEY MESSAGES: • Experiential knowledge contributes to improve practices in health promotion by sharing knowledge on how HP interventions work and by developing new skills (EK build up capacities) in the workforce. • A multilevel strategy combining advocacy, tools-building and training can be effective at promoting experiential knowledge. We identified levers that create favorable environments for dissemination.