Evidence-based Knowledge Translation Research Articles

Contextual influences on knowledge translation capacity in a nursing home organisation: A phenomenological hermeneutical study.

The demand for advanced clinical care in nursing homes (NHs) is increasing. Evidence-based practices and knowledge translation (KT) initiatives are growing to bridge the gap between what is known and what is done. However, research on contextual influence on KT has primarily focused on hospital settings. To expand our understanding of contextual influences on KT capacity in a NH organisation. Lindseth and Norberg's phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to explore and describe practice development nurses' experiences, perspectives and practices regarding how contextual factors influence KT capacity in NHs. Focus group interviews, participant observations, in-depth interviews and non-participant observations provided the data. Two main themes and four subthemes were identified. (1) Continuous limited resources are a cultural condition that inhibits KT readiness; prioritising keeping the NH machinery running at all costs and having contrasting care philosophies undermines KT. (2) Organisational prioritisations leave KT as a missing cogwheel in the machinery; retaining a system of fragmented KT strategies and lacking a structure for collective KT effort. The study showed that KT held a minor role in the fast-paced NH machinery. Contradicting values characterise the NH organisation, resulting in a lack of a common vision and priorities. Building a sustainable KT capacity and providing evidence-based practice necessitates explicit responsibilities, dedicated resources and robust organisational support. Management has a critical role in strengthening the position of KT. Incorporating KT in daily NH practice can help staff become adaptable and confident, capable of meeting the increasing challenges of advanced care that alleviates suffering and promote the health and well-being of NH patients.

Occupational therapy practice to support executive function impairment after acquired brain injury: A UK clinical survey

Introduction: This study explored treatment of executive functioning impairment in adults after acquired brain injury (ABI), clinician’s confidence and support received, in a sample of occupational therapists in the United Kingdom. Methods: A 24-item online questionnaire was sent to 750 members of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist-Section in Neurological Practice. Data was collected at a nominal and ordinal level and included yes/no Likert-type scale and free field comments. Descriptive statistical analysis was completed. Results: Seventy-six occupational therapists working in a range of neurological settings completed the survey. Frequently used interventions included education ( n = 57, 75%), task modification ( n = 56, 73%), instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) ( n = 54, 71%), personal ADL ( n = 53, 70%) and goal setting ( n = 53, 70%). Seventy-one percent used metacognitive strategies. Occupation-based metacognitive approaches were rarely used. Thirty-one (41%) participants reported being fairly confident and 28 (37%) were very confident. Support for clinical practice was accessed most frequently through joint clinical sessions ( n = 30, 39%). Findings: Participants used various clinical interventions to treat service users with executive dysfunction after ABI. Meta-cognitive strategies were employed; however, occupation-based metacognitive approaches were infrequently utilised, suggesting uncertainty in adopting these in practice. The need for further training on evidence-based interventions and knowledge translation support was highlighted.

Evaluation of the quality of guidelines for sublingual immunotherapy of allergic rhinitis.

Guidelines are intended to facilitate evidence-based clinical decision-making and knowledge translation; however, the quality and rigor of the guidelines are different. This study was conducted to assess the quality of sublingual immunotherapy guidelines for allergic rhinitis, in order to provide a reference for evidence-based clinical treatment and management of sublingual immunotherapy. Using both Chinese and English search methods, articles were obtained from PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data, VIP, and other databases from the construction of the database to September 2020. The AGREE II instrument was used by two researchers to independently evaluate the quality of the extracted articles, and the consistency of the researchers was evaluated using the inter-group correlation coefficient. Ten articles were included in this study, of which two articles ranked A level, six articles ranked B level, and two articles ranked C level. The six sections of AGREE II included scope and aim, clarity, participant, applicability, rigor, and editorial independence, with standardized scores of 78.06%, 45.83%, 42.81%, 77.50%, 50.42%, and 46.25%, respectively. The quality of the current guidelines for sublingual immunotherapy is average. The formulation methodology and reporting standards of these guidelines must be developed. By standardizing the treatment of sublingual immunotherapy properly, it is recommended that guideline makers refer to the AGREE II to formulate high-quality guidelines and promote their wide application.

Dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines: a longitudinal, mixed-methods evaluation of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care's knowledge translation efforts.

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (task force) develops evidence-based preventive health care guidelines and knowledge translation (KT) tools to facilitate guideline dissemination and implementation. We aimed to determine practitioners' awareness of task force guidelines and KT tools and explore barriers and facilitators to their use. The task force's KT team completed annual evaluations using surveys and interviews with primary care providers in Canada from 2014 to 2020, to assess practitioners' awareness and determinants of use of task force guidelines and tools. We transcribed interviews verbatim and double-coded them using a framework analysis approach. A total of 1284 primary care practitioners completed surveys and 183 participated in interviews. On average, 79.9% of participants were aware of the task force's 7 cancer screening guidelines, 36.2% were aware of the other 6 screening guidelines and 18.6% were aware of the 3 lifestyle or prevention guidelines. Participants identified 13 barriers and 7 facilitators to guideline and KT tool implementation; these were consistent over time. Participants identified strategies at the public and patient, provider and health systems levels to improve uptake of guidelines. Canadian primary care practitioners were more aware of task force cancer screening guidelines than its other preventive health guidelines. Over the 6-year period, participants consistently reported barriers to guideline uptake, including misalignment with patient preferences and other provincial or specialty guideline organizations. Further evaluations will assess tailored strategies to address the barriers identified.

Expected Health Benefits as the Ultimate Outcome of Information Available on Stroke Engine, a Knowledge Translation Stroke Rehabilitation Website: Web-Based Survey.

Electronic knowledge resources are readily available and typically target different audiences, including health professionals and the public, that is, those with lived experience and their relatives. The knowledge-to-action framework, in combination with the information assessment method (IAM), considering both the value-of-information construct and the conceptual model of acquisition-cognition-application, can be used to support the evaluation process of such resources. As an example, Stroke Engine is an evidence-based knowledge translation resource in stroke rehabilitation (assessments and interventions) for health professionals and students as well as individuals who have sustained a stroke and their relatives. According to Google Analytics, the website is perused >10,000 times per week. With the overall aim to improve the content available on Stroke Engine, we documented Stroke Engine users' perceptions of situational relevance, cognitive impact, intention to use, and expected patient and health benefits regarding the information consulted. A web-based survey anchored in the IAM was made available via an invitation tab. The IAM is a validated questionnaire that is designed to assess the value of information. Sociodemographic characteristics were also collected, and a space for free-text comments was provided. Descriptive statistics were used, and thematic analysis was used for the free-text comments. The sample consisted of 6634 respondents. Health professionals (3663/6634, 55.22%) and students (2784/6634, 41.97%) represented 97.18% (6447/6634) of the total responses. The remaining 2.82% (187/6634) of the responses were from individuals who had sustained a stroke (87/6634, 1.31%) and their relatives (100/6634, 1.51%). Regarding situational relevance, assessments (including selecting, obtaining, and interpreting results from a test) was the main topic searched by health professionals (1838/3364, 54.64%) and students (1228/2437, 50.39%), whereas general information on stroke rehabilitation was the top-ranked topic for nearly two-thirds of the individuals with stroke (45/76, 59%) and their relatives (57/91, 63%). Cognitive impact was characterized by learning something new. Intention to use was high (4572/6379, 71.67%) among the respondents and varied in context (eg, refine a topic, research, class assignments, teaching, and education). Respondents commented on ways to improve content. Expected patient and health benefits such as improvement in health and well-being was the top-ranked category for all 4 subgroups, followed by the avoidance of unnecessary or inappropriate treatment for health professionals (183/623, 29.4%) and a feeling of being reassured for individuals with stroke (26/75, 35%) and their relatives (28/97, 29%). Valuable feedback on Stroke Engine was obtained in terms of its accessibility, relevance for informational needs and retrieval, accuracy, and applicability; however, of utmost importance is the potential implementation of its evidence-based content in clinical practice and the perceived expected impact on patients, their relatives, and their health professionals. The feedback received allowed for corrections and the identification of key topics for further development.

A scoping review of occupational therapy scoping reviews – utilisation of the WFOT proposed international occupational therapy research priority

Introduction: This study aims to map existing occupational therapy scoping reviews to identify their characteristics and highlight research priorities to help occupational therapy researchers conduct further research in the eight prioritized research areas proposed by the WFOT Delphi study. Method: The review followed the scoping review guidelines from Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Six electronic databases (PubMed, ProQuest Central, Scopus, CINAHL and AHMED, and Web of Science) were used for the search. The inclusion criteria were set as follows: written in English; related to occupational therapy and scoping reviews. Results: A total of 189 articles were mapped to the WFOT research priorities: Effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions (n = 57); evidence-based practice and knowledge translation (n = 74); healthy aging (n = 26); participation in everyday life (n = 29); occupational therapy professional issues (n = 29); community development and population (n = 10); occupational therapy and chronic conditions (n = 41); technology and occupational therapy (n = 11); and some non-categorized studies. Conclusion: Our findings also support the WFOT study findings indicating the current research focus in evidence-based practice and knowledge transition.

From Evidence-Based Practice to Knowledge Translation: What Is the Difference? What Are the Roles of Nurse Leaders?

ObjectivesNurses, as the largest healthcare workforce, are well-positioned to apply knowledge translation. The role of nursing leadership in facilitating evidence-based practice has been extensively discussed in the literature, but this is not the case for knowledge translation. The objective of this study was to examine the potential role of nurse leaders in applying knowledge translation across health settings. Data SourcesWe reviewed the existing literature for evidence-based practice as best practice in clinical care; examined how a complex systems approach to knowledge translation may extend beyond evidence-based practice, and considered nursing leadership approaches including transformational leadership. ConclusionIn this discursive article, we discuss the differences between evidence-based practice and knowledge translation, highlight the promise of transformational leadership in facilitating knowledge translation through a complex systems lens, and argue for the importance of nurse leaders in facilitating and supporting complex knowledge translation across healthcare settings. Implications for Nursing PracticeAlthough future research is needed to test our ideas, we argue that the advanced conceptual understanding generated in this article should inform a roadmap toward a future in which nurse leaders initiate, participate and advocate for complex knowledge translation across healthcare settings.

Knowledge Translation and Implementation Planning to Promote Research Governance in Nongovernment Organizations in the Torres Strait: Descriptive Study.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia have participated in Western research for decades. When done well, research has resulted in significant benefits and positive impacts on society. However, the primary benefactor of this research has and continues to be researchers, with limited or no research knowledge mobilized for uptake and beneficial use by end users, such as individuals and communities. In 2021, the Torres Strait Islanders Research to Policy and Practice Hub (the Hub) at James Cook University designed and implemented several strategies, including a games-based interactive workshop with representatives from nongovernment organizations (NGOs). Feedback suggests the workshop and associated activities were a success. We describe knowledge translation (KT) and implementation planning to design and implement strategies to increase awareness and understanding of NGOs in research governance. This descriptive study involved representatives from NGOs on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. We collected data from a literature review and informal discussions. We used several models and frameworks to guide our approach and underpin data collection and analysis. Designing and implementing strategies to increase awareness and understanding of NGOs in the Torres Strait to govern research involved several key steps: (1) identifying and defining what needed to change and who needed to change, (2) identifying and mapping barriers and facilitators, (3) selecting the most appropriate strategies to support change, (4) implementing activities, and (5) monitoring and evaluating our approach. We developed a program logic to understand and communicate to others how we would implement activities and what resources would be required to support this process. We drew on several evidence-based KT and implementation models and frameworks to do this. First, a KT planning template was used to inform what evidence we wanted to mobilize, to whom, and for what purpose. Based on this step, we recognized we wanted to bring about change with the target audience, and as such, we drew on the previously mentioned implementation planning models and frameworks. We collated the outcomes from these initial steps. Our KT and implementation practice experience were successful. Encouraging researchers and end users to adopt similar practices requires investment in training and development of KT and implementation practice. This also entails modifying research standards and guidelines to include KT and implementation practice when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other vulnerable groups, creating incentives for researchers and end users to embed KT and implementation practice in research, and recognizing and rewarding the benefits and impact beyond publication and presentation.

Evidence implementation across Europe: the challenge of collaboration during the pandemic.

Evidence implementation across Europe: the challenge of collaboration during the pandemic.

Effectiveness of a guideline implementation tool for supporting management of mental health complications after mild traumatic brain injury in primary care: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionMental health problems frequently interfere with recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) but are under-recognised and undertreated. Consistent implementation of clinical practice guidelines for proactive detection and treatment of...

Perspectives From French and Filipino Parents on the Adaptation of Child Health Knowledge Translation Tools: Qualitative Exploration.

BackgroundA number of evidence-based knowledge translation (KT) tools for parents of children with acute health conditions have been developed. These tools were created and tested with parental input and disseminated to groups proficient in English. Therefore, it is unclear whether they are useful for populations that are more diverse. To enhance the reach of our current and future KT tools, language translation and cultural adaptations may promote relevance for previously underserved knowledge users.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore and understand considerations for the cultural and linguistic adaptation of a KT tool in French and Filipino communities.MethodsA KT tool (whiteboard animation video) describing the signs and symptoms of croup was originally developed in English to provide parents with evidence-based information couched within a narrative reflecting parents’ experiences with the condition. This KT tool was adapted (linguistics and imagery) for French- and Tagalog-speaking parents and caregivers through feedback from key stakeholders. The videos were presented to the respective language speakers for usability testing and discussion. Participants were asked to view the KT tool, complete a usability survey, and participate in semistructured interviews. Audio recordings from the interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analyzed for relevant themes by using thematic analysis.ResultsFrench- (n=13) and Tagalog-speaking (n=13) parents completed the usability survey and were interviewed. Although analyzed separately, both data sets produced similar findings, with key themes relating to understanding, relatability, and accessibility. Both the French and Tagalog groups reported that the video and other KT tools were useful in their adapted forms. Participants in both groups cautioned against using verbatim vocabulary and suggested that cultural competency and understanding of health languages were essential for high-quality translations. Parents also discussed their preference for videos with diverse visual representations of families, home environments, and health care workers, as such videos represent their communities more broadly.ConclusionsFrench and Filipino parents appreciated having KT tools in their first language; however, they were also supportive of the use of English KT products. Their suggestions for improving the relatability and communication of health messages are important considerations for the development and adaptation of future KT products. Understanding the needs of the intended end users is a crucial first step in producing relevant tools for health evidence dissemination.

Potentially Effective Drugs for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Children: A Systematic Review

Background: The efficacy and safety of using potential drugs such as remdesivir, glucocorticoid, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating children and adolescents with COVID-19 is unclear. Methods: We searched seven databases, three preprint platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google from December 1, 2019, to March 2, 2021, to collect evidence of remdesivir, glucocorticoid, and IVIG which were used in children and adolescents with COVID-19. Findings: A total of six cohort studies and one case series study were included in this systematic review. In terms of remdesivir, the meta-analysis of single-arm cohort studies have shown that, after the treatment, 37·1% (95%CI, 0·0% to 74·5%) experienced adverse events, 5·9% (95%CI, 1·5% to 10·2%) died, 37.2% (95%CI, 0% to 76·0%) needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). As for glucocorticoids, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the fixed-effect summary odds ratio (OR) for the association with mortality was 2·79 (95%CI, 0·13 to 60·87), and the mechanical ventilation rate was 3·12 (95%CI, 0·80 to 12·08) for glucocorticoids compared with the control group. In terms of IVIG, the two included cohort studies showed that for MIS-C patients with more severe clinical symptoms, IVIG combined with methylprednisolone could achieve better clinical efficacy than IVIG alone. Interpretation: Overall, the current evidence in the included studies is insignificant and of low quality, which does not adequately demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of using remdesivir, glucocorticoids, and IVIG in treating children and adolescents with COVID-19 or MIS-C. Funding Information: This work was supported by grants from the National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China) (grant number NCRCCHD-2020-EP-01); Special Fund for Key Research and Development Projects in Gansu Province in 2020; the Fourth Batch of “Special Project of Science and Technology for Emergency Response to COVID-19” of Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau; special funding for prevention and control of emergency of COVID-19 from Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province (grant number No. GSEBMKT-2020YJ01); The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2020-sp14). Declaration of Interests: None.

Quality Assessment of 45 Guidelines on Management of Critical Care Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and AGREE II Instrument Assessment

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a host of rapid guidelines (RGs) have been published to inform clinicians and decision-makers on best management for people with COVID-19. We assessed the quality of RGs for management of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods: We performed a rapid systematic review of RGs for the critical care patients with COVID-19. Medline (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCO), EMBASE, CNKI, CBM, WanFang, and relevant databases and websites were systematically searched through 31 st July 2020. The AGREE II instrument was used to assess the quality of included RGs and summarize relevant therapeutic interventions. Results: A total of 45 RGs for critically ill patients with COVID-19 were included. Ten were multinational and the remaining from individual countries. The clinical topics included in each RG varied: 41 were for general critical care unit management, two covered patients with tracheostomy, six covered children, four covered women, five covered cardiovascular diseases, 12 covered emergencies, 19 covered patients with pneumonia, and one was for patients receiving renal replacement therapy. Average scores for the six domains of the AGREE II instrument were 70%, 40%, 26%, 74%, 28%, 41% for the scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability, editorial independence, respectively. Recommendations for therapeutic interventions were summarized. Interpretation: Most of the RGs for critical care in response to COVID-19 included in the review showed a low overall quality (less than 40%). Future RGs for COVID-19 need to rely, for their development, on standard evidence-based methods and tools.Funding Statement: This work was supported by the Research Chair for Evidence-Based Health Care and Knowledge Translation, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Declaration of Interests: None.

IMAGINE Network’s Mind And Gut Interactions Cohort (MAGIC) Study: a protocol for a prospective observational multicentre cohort study in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome

IntroductionGut microbiome and diet may be important in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and comorbid psychiatric conditions, but the mechanisms are unclear. We will create a large...

Developing theory-informed knowledge translation strategies to facilitate the use of patient-reported outcome measures in interdisciplinary low back pain clinical practices in Quebec: mixed methods study

BackgroundThere is a growing interest among healthcare providers (HCPs) to use Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in clinical care. PROMs can help improve patient-care provider communication and may be used to inform the need for interdisciplinary care for Low Back Pain (LBP). However, PROM implementation to support clinical decision-making is complex and requires knowledge translation (KT) interventions that will overcome barriers to using PROMs in interdisciplinary clinical settings.Objectivesto 1) identify potential barriers and enablers to using PROMs in primary care LBP clinical practice from the perspective of healthcare team members, and 2) develop a theory-based tailored KT intervention to facilitate the use of PROMs in interdisciplinary clinical practice.MethodsWe invited 25 HCPs working in an interdisciplinary team to complete a self-administered survey designed based on the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF) to identify the barriers and enablers to using PROM scores in LBP clinical practice. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions rated on a 5-point Likert scale (quantitative) and included open-ended questions (qualitative). Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed to estimate the frequency of barriers and enablers. Findings were then reviewed by a panel of four KT experts who mapped behaviour change techniques to barriers identified that informed the design of a KT intervention.ResultsEighteen HCPs responded to the survey. Factors identified as likely to restrict the use of PROM scores included knowledge, skills, social/professional role and identity, goals, decision processes, beliefs about consequences, environmental context and resources, behavioural regulation, and social influence. A multi-component evidence-based KT intervention was proposed by the panel of experts to address these barriers: a training workshop; educational materials; and use of PROM score reports to HCPs that were all delivered by an opinion leader.ConclusionThe routine use of PROMs in clinical practice may optimize the quality of LBP care and improve patients’ outcomes. The proposed multi-component KT intervention is expected to be an effective strategy to increase HCPs’ ability to integrate PROMs into clinical decision-making and to engage patients in their care.

Evidence-based healthcare, knowledge translation, implementation science and radiography: What does it all mean?

Evidence-based healthcare is an approach to practice whereby decision making and service delivery considers the best available evidence, patient choice, local resources and clinical expertise. Although sound in theory, compliance with evidence-based practice is often far from optimal. To address this, related fields such as knowledge translation and implementation science have emerged, which largely focus on methods and techniques to facilitate the transfer of evidence into practice. This introductory article explains the key concepts of evidence-based healthcare by using the JBI Model as a framework to highlight the lifecycle of evidence-based information. Throughout the article we refer to exemplars from medical radiation to highlight these concepts.

Transition to Employment Program (SUPER) for Youth at Risk: A Conceptual and Practical Model.

This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of the transdisciplinary “Successful Pathways to Employment for youth at Risk” (SUPER) program to raise the transition readiness of youth at risk (YAR) from school into participation in adults’ responsibilities and employment. More than 10% of adolescents are at risk of dropping out of school following poor academic attainments. Schools appraise academic merit but do not develop relevant educational programs to prepare youth to transition into adult working life. The SUPER program addresses a range of knowledge and skills required for this transition. Sixty YAR from three high schools participated in the 18-week SUPER program. Comparing the pre- and postintervention results revealed that the students’ engagement with responsibilities, objective knowledge about the work world, and self-rated self-advocacy skills improved as did their supervisor-rated work performance capacity. This study confirms the contribution of the SUPER model. Its concepts, tools, principles, and community labor-market involvement through workplace internships were effective and could apply in other contexts. The SUPER model provides evidence-based knowledge translation that can bring conceptual and practical changes towards successful transition and participation of YAR in adult working roles.

Implementing participation-focused services: A study to develop the Method for using Audit and Feedback in Participation Implementation (MAPi).

It is widely agreed that children's services should use participation-focused practice, but that implementation is challenging. This paper describes a method for using audit and feedback, an evidence-based knowledge translation strategy, to support implementation of participation-focused practice in front-line services, to identify barriers to implementation, and to enable international benchmarking of implementation and barriers. Best-practice guidelines for using audit and feedback were followed. For audit, participation-focused practice was specified as clinicians' three observable behaviours: (a) targets participation outcomes; (b) involves child/parent in setting participation outcomes; and (c) measures progress towards participation outcomes. For barrier identification, the Theoretical Domains Framework Questionnaire (TDFQ) of known implementation barriers was used. A cycle of audit and barrier identification was piloted in three services (n = 25 clinicians) in a large U.K. healthcare trust. From each clinician, up to five randomly sampled case note sets were audited (total n = 122), and the clinicians were invited to complete the TDFQ. For feedback, data on the behaviours and barriers were shared visually and verbally with managers and clinicians to inform action planning. A Method for using Audit and feedback for Participation implementation (MAPi) was developed. The MAPi audit template captured clinicians' practices: Clinicians targeted participation in 37/122 (30.3%) of the sampled cases; involved child/parent in 16/122 (13.1%); and measured progress in 24/122 (19.7%). Barriers identified from the TDFQ and fed back to managers and clinicians included clinicians' skills in participation-focused behaviours (median = 3.00-5.00, interquartile range [IQR] = 2.25-6.00), social processes (median = 4.00, IQR = 3.00-5.00), and behavioural regulation (median = 4.00-5.00, IQR = 3.00-6.00). MAPi provides a practical, off-the-shelf method for front-line services to investigate and support their implementation of participation-focused practice. Furthermore, as a shared, consistent template, MAPi provides a method for generating cumulative and comparable, across-services evidence about levels and trends of implementation and about enduring barriers to implementation, to inform future implementation strategies.

An Approach to Improve Dementia Health Literacy in Indigenous Communities

This project aims to improve health literacy in Indigenous communities through the development of evidence-based culturally relevant health promotion materials on dementia that bridge the gap between Indigenous and Western perspectives of the illness. The research team worked in partnership with Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program (FNIHCC) and consulted with Indigenous elders to utilize a two-eyed seeing framework that draws upon Indigenous knowledge and Western biomedicine. A consolidated review of materials and research involving Indigenous perspectives of Alzheimer’s and age-related dementias led to the development of two culturally appropriate fact sheets. Two Indigenous-specific fact sheets were developed “What is Dementia? Indigenous Perspectives and Cultural Understandings” and “Signs and Symptoms of Dementia: An Indigenous Guide.” The fact sheets prioritize Indigenous knowledge and pay particular attention to Indigenous languages, diverse Indigenous cultures, and literacy levels. The content uses phrasing and words from Indigenous people involved in the research to share information. Biomedical concepts and words were included when necessary but language or presentation of these aspects were often modified to reflect Indigenous conceptualizations. This project provides a foundation for evidence-based knowledge translation in relation to cultural safety in dementia care. Specifically, the researchers outline how health care providers can develop culturally appropriate health promotion material, thus increasing Indigenous cultural understandings of dementia and health literacy.

Importance of Physical Activity for Successful Aging

Background: Despite being one of the fastest growing age cohorts in Canada, older adults experience greater levels of physical inactivity compared to the rest of the Canadian population. Purpose: The purpose of this student-driven narrative review is to supplement an evidence-based knowledge translation video designed to inform the general population on the benefits of physical activity for older adults. The review further discusses the implications of threshold-centered physical activity promotion on physical activity behaviour in adult populations. Discussion: Regular participation in physical activity is associated with several health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, mortality, and type 2 diabetes. Although many physical activity programs use a ‘threshold-centered’ approach (by using international and national physical activity guidelines) to promote physical activity, more recent evidence suggests that individuals can make significant health improvements through making small changes in physical activity behaviour. While meeting national and international physical activity guidelines can optimize one’s health, it is not the minimum level of activity needed to improve health. Conclusions: Engaging in regular physical activity is crucial for successful aging and health in older adults. While it is recommended to meet the Canadian physical activity guidelines, older adults can still make notable health improvements with small changes in physical activity behaviour.