Research Knowledge Utilization on Integrated Municipal Solid-Waste Management and Community Participation for Public Policy in the Deep South of Thailand

Background: Knowledge translation for research utilization is an important process for community to learn and properly use of research findings such as decision making based on evidence. However, a large gap exists between research production and practice. Few studies have conducted the research utilization in public policy for community waste management solutions. Purpose: The objectives of the study were to describe the knowledge from research, the gap between knowledge and practice, translation to communities, and policy recommendations for strategies to improve the use of evidence in community waste management problems. Methodology: This study is participatory action research based on Innovation diffusion theory initiating to solve community waste problem in real situation by community participation targeting residents living in 3 provinces in the Deep South of Thailand. The pre-selection of 4 communities was carried out in November 2017-December 2018, based on waste problem concerns. Data were collected by public meeting and community forum and field observation and then were analyzed by content analysis. Findings: The study was conducted in five stages were: (1) knowledge findings from research were discussed within communities providing a unique synthesis of evidence, (2) persuasion to communities to implementation including public policy, (3) community decision for proper solutions, (4) implementation in each community, and (5) confirmation and evaluation. Suggestion and conclusion: The research utilization for public policy in community waste management, could be practiced in a long period. This can be suggested that developing an integrated strategy should also draw paradigms from the socio-economic context of this area.