Article type
Abstract
Background
Knowledge Translation Infrastructures (KTIs) have been implemented worldwide since the early 2000s, whether in low- or middle-income countries—for instance, through the World Health Organization's Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet)—or in high-income advanced economies—for example, through the Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs). Their role is clear: to support practices and decisions based on the best available knowledge. This involves various activities aimed at strengthening actors' abilities to seek and use knowledge and fostering exchanges among them. KTIs have been subject to numerous evaluations, all over the world. Although the results are promising, there is limited research result on the collaborative governance modalities and implementation of these KTIs.
Objectives
InterS4 is a KTI established in Quebec (Canada) that brings together universities and healthcare and social services institutions to collaborate on facilitating access to knowledge derived from research applicable to rural settings. To analyze InterS4's collaborative governance and implementation of their services offerings, a developmental evaluation was conducted by an interdisciplinary research team.
Methods
Three conceptual frameworks were utilized, including An Integrative Framework for Collaborative Governance, Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and TransFormation. Data collection provided access to various perspectives: about 100 documents (survey results, reports, strategic plans, etc), direct observations (meetings, training, and virtual communities of practice), and 31 individual interviews (decision-makers from partner organizations, researchers, knowledge brokers, etc).
Results
The research has highlighted key components of collaborative governance, particularly perceptions related to sharing a common vision, role clarity, and communication modalities. It also identified drivers and barriers to the implementation of InterS4's service offerings, including the relevance and quality of the services, the sometimes nonpriority nature of participation in InterS4's activities, the perception of improved skills and knowledge among service users, and their challenges in applying them within their own organizations.
Conclusion
The study's findings have led to the definition of 10 practical recommendations for the development of InterS4. These results are also particularly important given the growing development of KTIs worldwide, as well as their collaborative operating mode.
Knowledge Translation Infrastructures (KTIs) have been implemented worldwide since the early 2000s, whether in low- or middle-income countries—for instance, through the World Health Organization's Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet)—or in high-income advanced economies—for example, through the Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs). Their role is clear: to support practices and decisions based on the best available knowledge. This involves various activities aimed at strengthening actors' abilities to seek and use knowledge and fostering exchanges among them. KTIs have been subject to numerous evaluations, all over the world. Although the results are promising, there is limited research result on the collaborative governance modalities and implementation of these KTIs.
Objectives
InterS4 is a KTI established in Quebec (Canada) that brings together universities and healthcare and social services institutions to collaborate on facilitating access to knowledge derived from research applicable to rural settings. To analyze InterS4's collaborative governance and implementation of their services offerings, a developmental evaluation was conducted by an interdisciplinary research team.
Methods
Three conceptual frameworks were utilized, including An Integrative Framework for Collaborative Governance, Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and TransFormation. Data collection provided access to various perspectives: about 100 documents (survey results, reports, strategic plans, etc), direct observations (meetings, training, and virtual communities of practice), and 31 individual interviews (decision-makers from partner organizations, researchers, knowledge brokers, etc).
Results
The research has highlighted key components of collaborative governance, particularly perceptions related to sharing a common vision, role clarity, and communication modalities. It also identified drivers and barriers to the implementation of InterS4's service offerings, including the relevance and quality of the services, the sometimes nonpriority nature of participation in InterS4's activities, the perception of improved skills and knowledge among service users, and their challenges in applying them within their own organizations.
Conclusion
The study's findings have led to the definition of 10 practical recommendations for the development of InterS4. These results are also particularly important given the growing development of KTIs worldwide, as well as their collaborative operating mode.