Abstract

BackgroundSolutions to complex public health issues should be informed by scientific evidence, yet there are important differences between policy and research processes that make this relationship challenging. Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a strategy of sustained stakeholder engagement that intends to address barriers to evidence use. We highlight an example of an IKT project alongside a randomized controlled trial of a public policy intervention that tested different disbursement patterns of income assistance among people who use drugs in Vancouver, British Columbia.MethodsA case study design was used where an IKT strategy led by a knowledge broker embedded within the research team acts as the case. This case study evaluates the process and effectiveness of the integrated knowledge translation project by measuring intermediate outcomes within a Theory of Change created to map pathways to impact. Content analysis was performed using an evaluation template through document review, post-event evaluations, and detailed tracking of media, knowledge translation activities and requests for information.ResultsA host of knowledge translation products synthesized existing research about the harms of synchronized income assistance disbursement and supported stakeholder engagement, facilitating conversation, relationship building and trust with stakeholders. Engagement improved knowledge of the contextual feasibility for system change, and contributed experiential knowledge to study findings. A combination of access to information and stakeholder and media engagement led to increased acknowledgement of the issue by policy makers directly involved in the income assistance system.ConclusionsThis project shows how a multipronged approach to IKT addressed barriers to evidence-informed public policy and successfully contributed to increased public discourse around income assistance policy reform. Additionally, sustained engagement with diverse stakeholders led to improved contextual knowledge and understanding of potential community level impacts that, along with scientific results, improved the evidence available to inform system change. This case study provides insight into the role IKT can play alongside research aimed at public policy improvements.Trial registrationThis IKT project was embedded within the study titled: The impact of Alternative Social Assistance Disbursement on Drug-Related Harm (TASA), known as Cheque Day Study, registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02457949) May 29, 2015.

Highlights

  • Solutions to complex public health issues should be informed by scientific evidence, yet there are important differences between policy and research processes that make this relationship challenging

  • This case study provides insight into the role Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) can play alongside research aimed at public policy improvements

  • To increase the evidence base of IKT planning and implementation processes, we present here a case study of an IKT approach embedded within an experimental study investigating whether alternative income assistance disbursement schedules mitigate payment-coincident drug-related harm

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Solutions to complex public health issues should be informed by scientific evidence, yet there are important differences between policy and research processes that make this relationship challenging. Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a strategy of sustained stakeholder engagement that intends to address barriers to evidence use. Relying on traditional avenues of disseminating research (i.e. publications and presentations following the end of a grant) overlooks several issues regarding the use of evidence. Such methods have been criticized for encouraging decision makers to use research without acknowledging the barriers decision makers face in implementing evidence-informed policy making [1]. Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) is an approach that prioritizes relationships with stakeholders to co-develop and execute research questions [5,6,7,8]. While the role of the knowledge broker will vary between research contexts, having a dedicated knowledge broker as part of a research team is a way to operationalize and formalize IKT within a research project

Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call