A decade of knowledge translation research—what has changed?

Abstract

Knowledge translation (KT) is perhaps an overused term. It reportedly has around 90 synonyms and a wide range of definitions [ 1 Straus S.E. Tetroe J. Graham I. Defining knowledge translation. CMAJ. 2009; 181: 165-168 Crossref PubMed Scopus (507) Google Scholar , 2 Kitson A. Phil D. Straus S.E. The knowledge-to-action cycle: identifying the gaps. CMAJ. 2010; 182: E73-E77 Crossref PubMed Scopus (62) Google Scholar , 3 Gagliardi A. Perrier L. Webster F. Leslie K. Bell M. Levinson W. et al. Exploring mentorship as a strategy to build capacity for knowledge translation research and practice: protocol for a qualitative study. Implement Sci. 2009; 4: 55 Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar , 4 Straus S. Haynes R.B. Managing evidence-based knowledge: the need for reliable, relevant and readable resources. CMAJ. 2009; 180: 942-945 Crossref PubMed Scopus (74) Google Scholar ]. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) define KT as “the exchange, synthesis and ethically sound application of knowledge—within a complex system of interactions among researchers and users—to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for society through improved health, more effective services and products, and a strengthened health care system” [ [5] Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canadian Institutes of Health Research knowledge translation strategy 2004–2009. http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/26574.html#defining Google Scholar ]. Straus et al. [ [1] Straus S.E. Tetroe J. Graham I. Defining knowledge translation. CMAJ. 2009; 181: 165-168 Crossref PubMed Scopus (507) Google Scholar ] prefer to describe KT as “the methods for closing the gaps from knowledge to practice.” This has an appealing directness. In the United Kingdom, and in other jurisdictions, the investigation of KT is rather prosaically known as “implementation research” [ [1] Straus S.E. Tetroe J. Graham I. Defining knowledge translation. CMAJ. 2009; 181: 165-168 Crossref PubMed Scopus (507) Google Scholar ]. This nicely captures the intent of most KT—to ensure that research findings are implemented appropriately and for the net benefit of patients and the public. KT has been the subject of a great deal of investment in several countries. Research funding agencies, such as the UK National Health Service have created new expectations of researchers, such as the recent trend to require lodgment of publications in digital repositories. This has led to a number of national governments have supported free access to the Cochrane Library. In Canada, the federal government has wavered on the latter; however, the CIHR has provided funding for the Canadian Cochrane Center, supported a number of integrated KT activities (for instance, the partnerships for Health System Improvement competition), provided required specification of end-of-grant KT, and has sponsored a number of policy development forums [ 6 Canadian Institutes of Health Research. About knowledge translation 2009. Google Scholar , 7 Canadian Health Services Research Foundation Summary of the article from research to practice: a knowledge transfer planning guide. Insight and Action. 2007; Google Scholar ].