The impact of the Program in Health Information will be evaluated, given the resources committed to it and the possibility that it may serve as a model for other nations. The impact of interventions in which intermediaries direct the public to health information content will be assessed through a competitive research grant program conducted primarily by social scientists in Portugal, with potential involvement of faculty from Harvard Medical School and other Harvard faculties and schools. Funding will be available for up to 4 projects during the duration of the Program (2 projects funded by the 2009 Call and 2 projects funded by the 2011 Call).

In order to assess the impact of this information over the next several years, the program is soliciting an expression of interest in applying for grants to evaluate the current baseline status (in 2010) on knowledge of the general public about health information and from what sources the public gets health information.

Topics of interest include all areas identified in the Portuguese National Health Plan. However, excellent proposals in any other topic will also be considered.

Outline of content proposals: proposals of all types will be considered, but the typical project would be a survey of a representative sample of Portuguese citizens of all ages and socio-economic groups, with particular emphasis on teen aged children, young adults and adults over age 60, to assess:

• The current state of knowledge about the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of these illnesses
• The current sources of knowledge about health information - newspapers, magazines, radio, television, books, Internet, science centers and museums, schools, health professionals, other.
• The perceived quality, comprehensibility and depth of each of these sources.

Duration of activity: Grants will be awarded for up to three years, and the assessment results produced by the grant will be delivered no later than 24 months after the start of the grant.

Applications must come from research groups with relevant experience on socio-economic research, either from public or private research institutions. Applications must preferably involve participants from at least two different Portuguese institutions, and applications integrating groups associated with biomedical research and hospitals will be viewed particularly favorably. In addition, preference will be given to applications also integrating groups from Harvard University associated with socio-economic research.

Applications to this type of Call will only open in 2012. Please visit the current running projects on ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM IN HEALTH INFORMATION.

To be announced.

1. Who can apply for the Health Information Grants?

Applications must come from groups associated with Portuguese Universities, Associate Laboratories, Research Centers, National Laboratories or any other public or private research institutions, including hospitals. Applications must involve participants from at least two different Portuguese institutions, working directly with faculty and staff of the Harvard Health Publications Division of Harvard Medical School who are available to serve as advisors.

Applications from multiple institutions are particularly encouraged. Successful applicants will be expected to reflect an active collaboration between teams from Portugal and advisors from Harvard and should be consistent with the overall editorial agenda and plan approved by the Health Information Executive Committee of the Harvard Medical School Portugal Program.

2. What is the duration and total funding for these calls?

Grants will be awarded for up to two years. For the 2010 Call funding is available for 6 projects. Only the Production and Distribution of Health Information will be open in 2010.

3. Is this a full-time research project? How is it compatible with other research?

Investigators can continue their public financed research independently of this project. However, Principal Investigators must dedicate a minimum of 35% of their time to this project and the remaining investigators 15% of their time. In the event of a grant being awarded investigators cannot exceed 100% in all their FCT financed projects at the time of contract finalization.

4. What funding is available and what expenses does it cover?

Total funding for the 2010 Call is 50,000 Euros annually for a period of 2 years.

5. Who will evaluate the applications?

Applications will be reviewed by a Review Committee of independent experts in the field of Health information for the general public, from the United States and countries other than Portugal, organized by FCT in close collaboration with Harvard Medical School. The Committee will be chaired by Professor Anthony Komaroff and will be responsible for evaluating the merit of each proposal and for identifying ways in which successful applicants might work together to avoid the creation of redundant content.

6. Where can I find additional information guidance for the project?

For discussions on guidance on your research project, content and relevance in the program please feel free to contact the HMS-PT Program Director Prof. Carmo Fonseca (carmo.fonseca@fm.ul.pt). For practical information regarding applications and process please contact HMS-PT Project Manager André Fernandes (andre.fernandes@hmsportugal.pt).