Integrated knowledge translation: an active partnership between researchers and health care providers

Article type
Authors
Vilis E1, Santesso N2, Thirsk J3, Bradley C4, Arratoon C5, Grimshaw J6
1Canadian Cochrane Centre, Canada
2McMaster University, Canada
3Dietitians of Canada, Canada
4Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Canada
5Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, Canada
6Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada
Abstract
Background: Knowledge producers and knowledge users continue to be concerned about how to effectively connect research to clinical practice. Cochrane Canada has collaborated with healthcare providers to translate and communicate evidence tailored to healthcare providers to bridge the gap.

Objectives: • To promote the use of knowledge translation strategies through engaged partnerships between researchers and healthcare providers. • To build capacity and skill development through research and healthcare provider collaboration. • To encourage greater understanding of and involvement in research by healthcare providers.

Methods: Cochrane Canada worked with the Dietitians of Canada and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in two separate projects. The overall objective in both projects was to foster a relationship between researchers and healthcare practitioners to translate and communicate evidence into practice. One project involved developing and testing peer review modules for dietitians while the other partnered researchers and physiotherapy practitioners in six webinars to explore basic and advanced evidence-based concepts that were linked to practical examples.

Results: In one project we created a module series to train dietitians in peer review and encourage their involvement in the Collaboration. To sustain this effort, implementation strategies have been developed in collaboration with our dietitian health professional partners. The second project with six physiotherapy webinars was a collaborative effort between clinicians and researchers in their development and presentation. Participant feedback indicated that the webinars improved their confidence and skill level to appraise and apply relevant research to practice.

Conclusions: Closing the gap between research and practice can be achieved through an active and engaged collaboration between researchers and health care providers. These two projects produced tailored content that applied relevant research to practice. This approach could be adapted to suit partnerships between other healthcare disciplines and researchers.