Knowledge Translation Practice Research Articles

Applying knowledge translation frameworks, approaches and principles to co-create a dissemination plan: Optimizing the spread of a pediatric concussion guideline

Background Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based statements that assist healthcare professionals with improving patient care. Achieving guideline aims depends on successful knowledge translation (KT) and includes dissemination and implementation efforts. Dissemination efforts are important precursors to implementation, help to maximize awareness and reach of best practices, and prepare for evidence adoption. This article shares the application of KT frameworks, approaches and principles in the creation of a dissemination plan and KT products for the Living Guideline for Pediatric Concussion Care. The target audience for dissemination are healthcare professionals delivering clinical care to patients between 5–18 years. Methods Guided by the Framework for Knowledge Transfer and an integrated KT (iKT) approach, 46 concussion experts participated in an iKT workshop and knowledge board activity to: 1) establish a Living Guideline dissemination plan; 2) identify products to share the Living Guideline; and, 3) prepare for Living Guideline implementation planning. Post-workshop, a snowball approach invited knowledge users including educators and youth/young adults with lived experience in concussion via interviews and focus groups, to expand upon the dissemination plan and recommended products. Results The dissemination plan yielded a reach of nearly 42,000 Living Guideline page views from September, 2019-January, 2022. Dissemination efforts included 13 multi-media interviews, over 40 activities (e.g. webinars), and 28 engagement emails to help raise awareness. Eight KT products were developed to foster sharing and use of the Living Guideline, with over 3000 downloads across all KT products. Conclusions Applying an iKT approach alongside appropriate frameworks and principles allowed for interaction and partnership building, resulting in the development of a robust dissemination plan and essential KT products. By showing the breadth and impact of the KT activities undertaken, it is hoped that the concussion community will explore how KT practices can bolster efforts to drive evidence into practice and optimize concussion care.

Embedded versus translational research: science-based innovation in biomedical product development

This article examines models of science-based innovation, embedded research and translational research in development of biomedical devices. While the applicability of linear of models of innovation in product develop have been widely questioned, studies have yet to explain how science-based biomedical knowledge production is reduced to practice in development of new devices. To understand how this occurs I investigated concepts of science-based innovation, embedded research and translational research in the context of commercial product development in the powered prosthetic arm industry from 1945 to 2020. I found that development of commercial powered prosthetic arms was strongly influenced by scientific research, with a majority of cases involving the originating researcher contributing to first reduction to practice in new commercial products. Instead of integrated knowledge translation practices, embedded research followed university research in many of the cases. The focus on a biomedical engineering industry limits the generalizability of the findings. Future research directions include examination of other historical and contemporary case studies, and identification of effective practices in embedding knowledge production projects in locations-of-use.

Building capacity for implementation\u2014the KT Challenge

BackgroundThe KT Challenge program supports health care professionals to effectively implement evidence-based practices. Unlike other knowledge translation (KT) programs, this program is grounded in capacity building, focuses on health care professionals (HCPs), and uses a multi-component intervention. This study presents the evaluation of the KT Challenge program to assess the impact on uptake, KT capacity, and practice change.MethodsThe evaluation used a mixed-methods retrospective pre-post design involving surveys and review of documents such as teams’ final reports. Online surveys collecting both quantitative and qualitative data were deployed at four time points (after both workshops, 6 months into implementation, and at the end of the 2-year funded projects) to measure KT capacity (knowledge, skills, and confidence) and impact on practice change. Qualitative data was analyzed using a general inductive approach and quantitative data was analyzed using non-parametric statistics.ResultsParticipants reported statistically significant increases in knowledge and confidence across both workshops, at the 6-month mark of their projects, and at the end of their projects. In addition, at the 6-month check-in, practitioners reported statistically significant improvements in their ability to implement practice changes. In the first cohort of the program, of the teams who were able to complete their projects, half were able to show demonstrable practice changes.ConclusionsThe KT Challenge was successful in improving the capacity of HCPs to implement evidence-based practice changes and has begun to show demonstrable improvements in a number of practice areas. The program is relevant to a variety of HCPs working in diverse practice settings and is relatively inexpensive to implement. Like all practice improvement programs in health care settings, a number of challenges emerged stemming from the high turnover of staff and the limited capacity of some practitioners to take on anything beyond direct patient care. Efforts to address these challenges have been added to subsequent cohorts of the program and ongoing evaluation will examine if they are successful. The KT Challenge program has continued to garner great interest among practitioners, even in the midst of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and shows promise for organizations looking for better ways to mobilize knowledge to improve patient care and empower staff. This study contributes to the implementation science literature by providing a description and evaluation of a new model for embedding KT practice skills in health care settings.

The Value of Knowledge Translation in an Infectious Disease Context: The COVID-19 Pandemic Perspective

As of 2021, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is evident in every facet of life, despite the availability of knowledge to prevent or mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. Infectious disease pandemics will continue to be a global challenge, and yet the hesitancy of decision makers to utilize the plethora of evidence based strategies in a pandemic response threatens the future global health security. Therefore, this paper focuses on exploring how knowledge translation (KT) practices can be integrated into infectious disease prevention and control using the current COVID-19 pandemic to identify KT barriers. By continually synthesizing and incorporating research findings into routine decision making processes, public health institutions can adequately prepare health systems to manage a pandemic. The application of KT can be approached from four different stages: synthesis of information, dissemination of knowledge, exchange of knowledge, and ethical application of knowledge. Using the four stages of KT, the following propositions were made: investing in links between knowledge synthesis and utilization, engaging broader stakeholders in knowledge dissemination activities, creating effective two-way communication lines between knowledge producers and users, and strengthening knowledge utilizing activities. By demonstrating the utility of applying the four KT stages in an infectious disease pandemic context, it is hoped that more discussions and research is stimulated to engage the incorporation of KT into future outbreak responses.

Delivering Evidence-Based Online Concussion Education to Medical and Healthcare Professionals: The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT).

Background Medical and healthcare professionals report an important gap in their training and knowledge on concussion diagnosis and management. The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) for medical professionals provides evidenced-based training and resources, representing an important effort to fill this gap. The goal of the current article was to summarize and describe the general uptake of the 2018 relaunch of the CATT for medical professionals and to present results of a quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) assessment including qualitative feedback from medical and healthcare professionals. Methodology. Tracking completions via certificates and Google Analytics were used to measure uptake over the first two years following the 2018 relaunch and promotion of CATT for medical professionals. Medical and healthcare professionals who had completed the CATT from the time of the relaunch on June 11, 2018, to July 31, 2019, were invited via e-mail to participate in the survey-based QA/QI assessment. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Results Year 1 saw 8,072 pageviews for the CATT for medical professionals landing page, increasing to 9,382 in Year 2. Eighty-nine medical and healthcare professionals who had completed the CATT for medical professionals participated in the QA/QI assessment. Results showed that 85% of respondents reported learning new information about concussion; 73% reported changing the way they diagnose, treat, or manage concussion; and 71% reported recommending the CATT to colleagues. Qualitative data also indicated highly favourable opinions and experiences. Conclusions The CATT for medical professionals has demonstrated promise as a tool to promote knowledge translation practice and help fill the gap in concussion training and knowledge reported by medical and healthcare professionals.

Disseminating the Foundations of Knowledge Translation and Patient Engagement Science Through the KnowledgeNudge Blog and Twitter Profile: Quantitative Descriptive Evaluation.

BackgroundThere is a documented need to build capacity for theory- and evidence-informed knowledge translation (KT) and patient engagement (PE) practice in health research. Dissemination of foundational content online coupled with social media promotion may build capacity by increasing awareness, knowledge, and positive attitudes.ObjectiveThis retrospective study sought to (1) describe exposure and engagement of the KnowledgeNudge KT and PE dissemination strategy (online blog and Twitter profile) over 2 years and (2) identify and compare characteristics of individual posts with the most and least exposure and reach.MethodsExposure was assessed by blog site views per month and Twitter profile impressions per month. Engagement was assessed by Twitter profile interactions per month. Descriptive statistics were calculated for 6-month blocks and compared using one-way analysis of variance or Student t test. Individual post exposure was assessed by average post views per week. Individual post reach was assessed by average post reads per week. High- and low-profile blog posts with the highest and lowest 10th percentile for exposure and reach were identified.ResultsA total of 99 posts and 755 tweets were published during the study period. There was a significant increase in exposure (P=.004) and reach (P<.001) during the final 6 months. Seven high-profile and 6 low-profile posts were identified. High-profile posts had a significantly greater average word count than low-profile posts (P=.003). There were no other significant differences between posts.ConclusionsThe increases in KnowledgeNudge exposure and engagement offer preliminary evidence in support of this dissemination strategy for the practice of KT and PE. Variation in individual post exposure and reach warrants further exploration to tailor content to user needs. Future work will include a prospective evaluation strategy to explore the effect of KnowledgeNudge on awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.

The sourcing for collaborative knowledge translation in distributed R&amp;D processes: a cross-regional study

PurposeWe explore the impact of a specific knowledge management framework on the quality of innovation, the geographic distribution of R&amp;D and the cross-regional integration. We use directly observed indicators of cross-regional knowledge application within the firm as well as examine collaborative mechanisms that firms may use to promote such knowledge translation.Design/methodology/approachOur analysis is based upon successful patents in biotechnology sector applied for during 2011–2014. The empirical assessment follows a mixed method approach. The sample used for testing the empirical hypotheses is composed of 130,720 patents from 860 large US firms. The sample of patents was obtained from USPTO and NBER dataset.FindingsThe idea of this paper was to introduce a model specifically developed for the process of knowledge translation. This research contributes to the literature related to the emergent and new issue namely collaborative knowledge translation (CKT), especially emphasizing the key role of the knowledge translation practices and tools for the internationalization of R&amp;D teams and supporting the quality of innovations in different ways.Originality/valueThis research is conceptually based on the broader concepts of spiral of knowledge of Nonaka and Takeuchi. In spite of the increasing research in innovation, few studies have been done about the diverse contexts' role in the knowledge flows supporting the innovation development. In the attempt to cover this gap, the objective of this research is to answer the following main research question: How to support and manage the process of knowledge translation in innovation processes occurring in collaborative teams?

Improving KT tools and products: development and evaluation of a framework for creating optimized, Knowledge-activated Tools (KaT)

BackgroundPositive impacts of quality improvement initiatives on health care and services have not been substantial. Knowledge translation (KT) strategies (tools, products and interventions) strive to facilitate the uptake of knowledge thereby the potential to improve care, but there is little guidance on how to develop them. Existing KT guidance or planning tools fall short in operationalizing all aspects of KT practice activities conducted by knowledge users (researchers, clinicians, patients, decision-makers), and most do not consider their variable needs or to deliver recommendations that are most relevant and useful for them.MethodsWe conducted a 3-phase study. In phase 1, we used several sources to develop a conceptual framework for creating optimized Knowledge-activated Tools (KaT) (consultation with our integrated KT team, the use of existing KT models and frameworks, findings of a systematic review of multimorbidity interventions and a literature review and document analysis on existing KT guidance tools). In phase 2, we invited KT experts to participate in a Delphi study to refine and evaluate the conceptual KaT framework. In phase 3, we administered an online survey to knowledge users (researchers, clinicians, decision-makers, trainees) to evaluate the potential usefulness of an online mock-up version of the KaT framework.ResultsWe developed the conceptual KaT framework, and iteratively refined it with 35 KT experts in a 3-round Delphi study. The final framework represents the blueprint for what is needed to create KT strategies. Feedback from 201 researcher, clinician, decision-maker and trainee knowledge users on the potential need and usefulness of an online, interactive version of KaT indicated that they liked the idea of it (mean score 4.36 on a 5-point Likert scale) and its proposed features (mean score range 4.30–4.79).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that mostly Canadian KT experts and knowledge users perceived the KaT framework and the future development of an online, interactive version to be important and needed. We anticipate that the KaT framework will provide clarity for knowledge users about how to identify their KT needs and what activities can address these needs, and to help streamline the process of these activities to facilitate efficient uptake of knowledge.

Towards a translational medical humanities: introducing the cultural crossings of care

In this introductory essay, we will present a translational medical humanities approach where the humanities are not only an auxiliary to medical science and practice, but also an interdisciplinary space...

A close examination of the role and needed expertise of brokers in bridging and building science policy boundaries in environmental decision making

Knowledge brokers are often portrayed as neutral intermediaries that act as a necessary conduit between the spheres of science and policy. Conceived largely as a task in packaging, brokers are expected to link knowledge producers and users and objectively translate science into policy-useable knowledge. The research presented in this paper shows how brokering can be far more active and precarious. We present findings from semi-structured interviews with practitioners working with community-based groups involved in collaborative water planning in New Zealand’s South Island region of Canterbury. Working in a highly conflicted situation, our brokers had to navigate different knowledges and epistemic practices, highly divergent values and grapple with uncertainties to deliver recommendations for regional authorities to set water quality and quantity limits. Conceiving science and policy as interlinked, mutually constitutive and co-produced at multiple levels, rather than as separate domains, shows how the brokers of this study were not only bridging or blurring science policy boundaries to integrate and translate knowledges. They were also building boundaries between science and policy to foster credibility and legitimacy for themselves as scientists and the knowledge they were brokering. This research identifies further under-explored aspects of brokering expertise, namely, the multiple dimensions of brokering, transdisciplinary skills and expertise, ‘absorptive’ uncertainty management and knowledge translation practices.

Examining partnerships within an international knowledge translation network focused on youth mental health promotion

BackgroundSystems transformation for health promotion, involving engagement from multiple disciplines and levels of influence, requires an investment in partnership development. Integrated youth service is a collaborative model that brings organisations together to provide holistic care for youth. Frayme is an international knowledge translation network designed to support the uptake and scaling of integrated youth service. Social network analysis (SNA) is the study of relationships among social units and is useful to better understand how partners collaborate within a network to achieve major objectives. The purpose of this paper is to apply SNA to the Frayme network in order to (1) examine the level and strength of partnerships, (2) identify the strategies being employed to promote the main objectives and (3) apply the findings to current research in youth mental health and system transformation.MethodsThe PARTNER tool includes a validated survey and analysis software designed to examine partner interconnections. This tool was used to perform the SNA and 51 of the 75 partners completed the survey (14 researchers, 2 advisory groups and 35 organisations). A network map was created and descriptive frequencies were calculated.ResultsThe overall network scores for the Frayme network were 20.6% for density, 81.5% for centralisation and 71.7% for overall trust. The Frayme secretariat received a 3.84 out of a possible 4 for value. In addition, the youth and family advisories each received a value score of 4 and all Leadership Team organisations received a score of 2.97 or above.ConclusionsThe Frayme secretariat links many partners who would otherwise be disconnected and acts as a significant conduit for novel information. Frayme may have the opportunity to enhance value perceptions among broader network members by profiling individual organisations and the potential leveraging opportunities that might exist through their work. These findings increase understanding with respect to the mechanisms of network development and will be helpful to inform partnership development in the future. In addition, they contribute to the literature with respect to knowledge translation practice as well as the scaling of collaborative interventions within youth mental health.

Making space for Indigenous knowledge translation activities in Canadian health librarianship

Abstract&#x0D; Introduction: In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 22 called upon “those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices” 1. Given that research has shown that health librarians have this ability to help affect change in the healthcare system, how does the health library literature reflect shifting professional practice that make space for Indigenous peoples and knowledge?&#x0D; Methods: In this literature review, we searched for keywords and controlled terms, or subject headings, on Indigenous topics within three key North American health library journals: the Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (JCHLA) (indexed in CINAHL); the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) (Ovid MEDLINE); and Medical Reference Services Quarterly (MSRQ) (Ovid MEDLINE). A modified version of Smylie et al’s2 model of critical self-reflection guided by Indigenous knowledge translation principles was then used to analyse the papers and suggest potential avenues for future research.&#x0D; Results: Our initial search retrieved 8 articles from JMLA, 2 from MRSQ, and 14 from JCHLA which our exclusion criteria reduced to 5 articles that were then qualitatively analyzed. Of these only two articles reflected a more substantial engagement with Indigenous knowledge translation practices.&#x0D; Discussion: Most of the articles did not explicitly engage in self-reflection about how their personal, professional or systemic privileges and biases impact their work with Indigenous health topics.

Knowledge Translation Practices, Enablers, and Constraints: Bridging the Research–Practice Divide in Sport Management

Funding bodies seek to promote scientific research that has a social or economic impact beyond academia, including in sport management. Knowledge translation in sport management remains largely implicit and is yet to be fully understood. This study examines how knowledge translation in sport management can be conceptualized and fostered. The authors draw on a comparative analysis of coproduced research projects in Belgium and Australia to identify the strategic, cognitive, and logistic translation practices that researchers adopt, as well as enablers and constraints that affect knowledge translation. The findings show ways in which knowledge translation may be facilitated and supported, such as codesign, boundary spanning, adaptation of research products, and linkage and exchange activities. The findings reveal individual, organizational, and external constraints that need to be recognized and, where possible, managed.

Exploring knowledge translation practices in a global health program: case study on the establishment of the Pakistan National Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Program

To describe the major knowledge translation processes, decisions, and organizations involved in the landmark decision to institute a national, federal program in one of the most populous countries of the world. The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) program was a vertical program that was established in 2006 in Pakistan. Using the case study methodology, we conducted a peer and grey literature review, with key informant in-depth interviews for meeting the study objectives. We used Wilson et al’s Knowledge to Action (K2A) Framework to explore the knowledge translation processes, the major decisions, and the national and international organizations involved during the 7-year period preceding the decision. The time period was selected based on the change in government in late 1998, which continued till the establishment of the national program. Using the framework, we categorized knowledge translation practices and major decisions into phases of research, translation, and institutionalization. We were able to identify 20 organizations that had played a part in the institution of the program, of which six national and international were considered significant towards effecting decisions. While organizations such as the World Bank and Pakistan Ministry of Health played important roles, we highlight the pivotal role of the Health Secretary’s office, as an unusual ‘knowledge broker’ situated within the Government. While effective program planning in low middle-income countries can greatly benefit from knowledge translation practices, explaining processes from evidence generation to the final step of key decisions is valuable in understanding the complexities involved in such settings. The study begins to fill a critical gap in literature in illustrating real-world program planning in resource-constrained countries, lagging in maternal and child health indicators.

A decolonizing method of inquiry: using institutional ethnography to facilitate community-based research and knowledge translation

ABSTRACTThis paper describes how a study using institutional ethnography (IE) was used as a decolonizing method of inquiry in a rural Indigenous community in Canada. IE honors lived experience, reveals institutional and colonial practices, provides clear empirical evidence, and can offer clear recommendations that can benefit Indigenous communities. At the heart of decolonizing research is the task of shifting whose knowledge is privileged – from those with power (often researchers) to those who are being researched (those subject to the effects of colonization). To highlight how IE can be used as a decolonizing method of inquiry, the authors of this paper (a) point out common pitfalls of academic research and knowledge translation (KT) practices in Indigenous health; (b) highlight decolonizing research principles and how IE can be a decolonizing method of inquiry; and (c) share an example to illustrate how IE was used in a decolonizing health study in a First Nations community context. This paper also outlines critiques of mainstream research and KT practices, highlights principles for conducting research with Indigenous people in Canada, and further discusses how IE is well positioned to facilitate both decolonizing research and strategic KT.

Qualitative assessment of opportunities and challenges to improve evidence-informed health policy-making in Hungary \u2013 an EVIPNet situation analysis pilot

BackgroundIn evidence-informed policy-making (EIP), major knowledge gaps remain in understanding the context and possibilities for institutionalisation of knowledge translation. In 2014, the WHO Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Europe initiated a number of pilot countries, with Hungary among them, to engage in a ‘situation analysis’ (SA) in order to fill some of those gaps. This contribution discusses the results of the SA in Hungary on research–policy interactions, facilitating factors and potential barriers to establish a knowledge translation platform (KTP).MethodsIn line with the EVIPNet Europe SA Manual, a document analysis, 13 interviews, 3 focus group discussions with 21 participants, and an online survey with 31 respondents were carried out from April to October, 2015. A SA aims to assess the context in which EIP takes form and seeks opportunities to establish a KTP, so information was gathered on the current practice of EIP and knowledge translation, its relevant actors, enablers and barriers for EIP, and opinions on a future KTP. Methodological and researcher triangulation resulted in a narrative synthesis of data, including a comparison with literature. A stakeholder consultation was organised to validate findings.ResultsThis study reveals that stakeholders show commitment to produce and use research evidence in Hungarian health policy-making. All stakeholders endorsed the idea of strengthening the systematic use of evidence in decision-making and favoured the idea of establishing a KTP. In line with literature on other countries, some good practices exist on the uptake of evidence in policy-making; however, a systematic approach of developing, translating and using research evidence in health policy processes is lacking. EIP is currently hampered by scattered capacity, coordination problems, high fluctuation in government, an often legalistic and a more ‘symbolic’ rather than practical support for knowledge translation and EIP. The article summarises recommendations on a Hungarian KTP.ConclusionsPragmatic adaptation of the SA Manual to local needs proved to be a useful mechanism to provide insight into the Hungarian EIP field and the establishment of a potential KTP. Despite the success of a KTP pilot, it remains unclear how a KTP in Hungary will be institutionalised in a sustainable way.

Evaluation of the \u201cFoundations in Knowledge Translation\u201d training initiative: preparing end users to practice KT

BackgroundCurrent knowledge translation (KT) training initiatives are primarily focused on preparing researchers to conduct KT research rather than on teaching KT practice to end users. Furthermore, training initiatives that focus on KT practice have not been rigorously evaluated and have focused on assessing short-term outcomes and participant satisfaction only. Thus, there is a need for longitudinal training evaluations that assess the sustainability of training outcomes and contextual factors that may influence outcomes.MethodsWe evaluated the KT training initiative “Foundations in KT” using a mixed-methods longitudinal design. “Foundations in KT” provided training in KT practice and included three tailored in-person workshops, coaching, and an online platform for training materials and knowledge exchange. Two cohorts were included in the study (62 participants, including 46 “Foundations in KT” participants from 16 project teams and 16 decision-maker partners). Participants completed self-report questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after the first workshop.ResultsParticipant-level outcomes include survey results which indicated that participants’ self-efficacy in evidence-based practice (F(1,8.9) = 23.7, p = 0.001, n = 45), KT activities (F(1,23.9) = 43.2, p < 0.001, n = 45), and using evidence to inform practice increased over time (F(1,11.0) = 6.0, p = 0.03, n = 45). Interviews and focus groups illustrated that participants’ understanding of and confidence in using KT increased from baseline to 24 months after the workshop. Interviews and focus groups suggested that the training initiative helped participants achieve their KT project objectives, plan their projects, and solve problems over time. Contextual factors include teams with high self-reported organizational capacity and commitment to implement at the start of their project had buy-in from upper management that resulted in secured funding and resources for their project. Training initiative outcomes include participants who applied the KT knowledge and skills they learned to other projects by sharing their knowledge informally with coworkers. Sustained spread of KT practice was observed with five teams at 24 months.ConclusionsWe completed a longitudinal evaluation of a KT training initiative. Positive participant outcomes were sustained until 24 months after the initial workshop. Given the emphasis on implementing evidence and the need to train implementers, these findings are promising for future KT training.

A descriptive qualitative examination of knowledge translation practice among health researchers in Manitoba, Canada

BackgroundThe importance of effective translation of health research findings into action has been well recognized, but there is evidence to suggest that the practice of knowledge translation (KT) among health researchers is still evolving. Compared to research user stakeholders, researchers (knowledge producers) have been under-studied in this context. The goals of this study were to understand the experiences of health researchers in practicing KT in Manitoba, Canada, and identify their support needs to sustain and increase their participation in KT.MethodsQualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 researchers studying in biomedical; clinical; health systems and services; and social, cultural, environmental and population health research. Interview questions were open-ended and probed participants’ understanding of KT, their experiences in practicing KT, barriers and facilitators to practicing KT, and their needs for KT practice support.ResultsKT was broadly conceptualized across participants. Participants described a range of KT practice experiences, most of which related to dissemination. Participants also expressed a number of negative emotions associated with the practice of KT. Many individual, logistical, and systemic or organizational barriers to practicing KT were identified, which included a lack of institutional support for KT in both academic and non-academic systems. Participants described the presence of good relationships with stakeholders as a critical facilitator for practicing KT. The most commonly identified needs for supporting KT practice were access to education and training, and access to resources to increase awareness and promotion of KT. While there were few major variations in response trends across most areas of health research, the responses of biomedical researchers suggested a unique KT context, reflected by distinct conceptualizations of KT (such as commercialization as a core component), experiences (including frustration and lack of support), and barriers to practicing KT (for example, intellectual property concerns).ConclusionsThe major findings of this study were the continued variations in conceptualization of KT, and persisting support needs that span basic individual to comprehensive systemic change. Expanding the study to additional regions of Canada will present opportunities to compare and contrast the state of KT practice and its influencing factors.

An introduction and overview of research and knowledge translation practices in a pan-Canadian art-based health research study

Abstract This article provides a brief overview of the emergence of art-based health research and describes a pan-Canadian study exploring the experience of researchers, artists and trainees engaged in this work. Research participants are described and specific research projects explicating the array of art-based knowledge creation and translation practices are outlined as exemplars of this work. In order to highlight the diversity of art-based research, four unique projects are presented, which exemplify the art genres represented in the study: performative, literary, visual and multi-media.

Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation: A Shared Vision.

Advances in rehabilitation provide the infrastructure for research and clinical data to improve care and patient outcomes. However, gaps between research and practice are prevalent. Knowledge translation (KT) aims to decrease the gap between research and its clinical use. This special communication summarizes KT-related proceedings from the 2016 IV STEP conference, describes current KT in rehabilitation science, and provides suggestions for its application in clinical care. We propose a vision for rehabilitation clinical practice and research that includes the development, adaptation, and implementation of evidence-based practice recommendations, which will contribute to a learning health care system. A clinical research culture that supports this vision and methods to engage key stakeholders to innovate rehabilitation science and practice are described. Through implementation of this vision, we can lead an evolution in rehabilitation practice to ultimately prevent disabilities, predict better outcomes, exploit plasticity, and promote participation.