Knowledge Translation
Knowledge Translation
What is knowledge translation?
Knowledge Translation (KT) means making technical and complicated information and research easier to understand and use. Integrated KT (iKT) involves working with knowledge users throughout the process. Our knowledge users are long-term care residents, unpaid caregivers such as family members, paid care staff such as nurses and care aides, administrators, managers, policymakers, and advocacy groups.
Effective iKT is designed with the intended knowledge users in mind, so that it best suits their needs. It allows us to understand the knowledge users' needs and tailor our approach to meet these needs. It gives knowledge users opportunities to shape the research from start to finish. It also helps us identify potential barriers and facilitators to conducting research in the knowledge user's specific context. Involving knowledge users is important to us because they help us make what we do more relevant and useful. We will continually engage with our knowledge users throughout our research.
When engaging with knowledge users, we will ask ourselves a series of questions:
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What information should be shared?
With whom should the information be shared?
Who should share the information?
How should information be shared?
What is the goal of sharing this information?
Interested in learning more?
Please feel free to get in contact with our knowledge translation team:
REFERENCES
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Graham ID, Logan J, Harrison MB, Straus SE, Tetroe J, Caswell W, Robinson N. Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map?. Journal of continuing education in the health professions. 2006 Dec;26(1):13-24.
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Kothari A, Wathen CN. A critical second look at integrated knowledge translation. Health Policy. 2013 Feb 1;109(2):187-91.
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Wathen CN, Sibbald SL, Jack SM, MacMillan HL. Talk, trust and time: a longitudinal study evaluating knowledge translation and exchange processes for research on violence against women. Implementation Science. 2011 Dec 1;6(1):102.
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Lavis JN, Robertson D, Woodside JM, McLeod CB, Abelson J. Knowledge transfer study group. How can research organizations more effectively transfer research knowledge to decision makers? Milbank Q. 2003;81(2):221–48, 171-2.
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RESOURCES
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For a description of iKT research in long-term care:
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Keefe J, Hande MJ, Aubrecht K, Daly T, Cloutier D, Taylor D. et al. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2020;9(4):138–142. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2019.123Team-based integrated knowledge translation for enhancing quality of life in long-term care settings: a multi-method, multi-sectoral research design.
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Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Research Network resources
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Involving stakeholders in KT evaluation (Cochrane Collaborative)