Knowledge translation within a population health study: how do you do it?
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Date
2013-05-21
Authors
Kitson, Alison L
Powell, Kathryn
Hoon, Elizabeth
Newbury, Jonathan
Wilson, Anne
Beilby, Justin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Rights
© Kitson et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013
Rights Holder
Kitson et al.
Abstract
Background
Despite the considerable and growing body of knowledge translation (KT) literature, there are few methodologies sufficiently detailed to guide an integrated KT research approach for a population health study. This paper argues for a clearly articulated collaborative KT approach to be embedded within the research design from the outset.
Discussion
Population health studies are complex in their own right, and strategies to engage the local community in adopting new interventions are often fraught with considerable challenges. In order to maximise the impact of population health research, more explicit KT strategies need to be developed from the outset. We present four propositions, arising from our work in developing a KT framework for a population health study. These cover the need for an explicit theory-informed conceptual framework; formalizing collaborative approaches within the design; making explicit the roles of both the stakeholders and the researchers; and clarifying what counts as evidence. From our deliberations on these propositions, our own co-creating (co-KT) Framework emerged in which KT is defined as both a theoretical and practical framework for actioning the intent of researchers and communities to co-create, refine, implement and evaluate the impact of new knowledge that is sensitive to the context (values, norms and tacit knowledge) where it is generated and used. The co-KT Framework has five steps. These include initial contact and framing the issue; refining and testing knowledge; interpreting, contextualising and adapting knowledge to the local context; implementing and evaluating; and finally, the embedding and translating of new knowledge into practice.
Summary
Although descriptions of how to incorporate KT into research designs are increasing, current theoretical and operational frameworks do not generally span a holistic process from knowledge co-creation to knowledge application and implementation within one project. Population health studies may have greater health impact when KT is incorporated early and explicitly into the research design. This, we argue, will require that particular attention be paid to collaborative approaches, stakeholder identification and engagement, the nature and sources of evidence used, and the role of the research team working with the local study community.
Description
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords
Knowledge translation, Population health, Engaged scholarship, co-KT Framework, Health system redesign
Citation
Kitson, A.L., Powell, K., Hoon, E., Newbury, J., Wilson, A. and Beilby, J. (2013). Knowledge translation within a population health study: how do you do it? Implementation Science, 8(1) pp. 54.