What is Knowledge Translation?

Knowledge translation (KT) is a scientific study of methods that has emerged due to the challenge of improving quality of health care while minimizing risk of adverse events. KT emphasizes on closing the knowledge-to-practice gap when providing evidence from clinical research to the health care settings. Essentially, KT is an interactive process involving exchanges between researchers who create new knowledge and those who use it. It is a method that has been recognized by policy makers, funding agencies, clinicians and researchers; with appropriate evidence implementation, health care costs are reduced and positive outcomes are often observed.

Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

 

Knowledge to Action Model

Graham et al. (2006) proposed the knowledge-to-action (KTA) process conceptual framework that could be useful for facilitating the use of research knowledge by several stakeholders, such as practitioners, policymakers, patients, and the public. The KTA process has two components: (1) knowledge creation and (2) action. Each component contains several phases. The authors conceptualized the KTA process to be complex and dynamic, with no definite boundaries between the two components and among their phases. The phases of the action component may occur sequentially or simultaneously, and the knowledge-creation-component phases may also influence the action phases.

In the KTA process, knowledge is mainly conceptualized as empirically derived (research-based) knowledge; however, it encompasses other forms of knowing, such as experiential knowledge. The KTA framework also emphasizes the collaboration between the knowledge producers and knowledge users throughout the KTA process.

Source: Sudsawad, P. (2007) Knowledge translation: Introduction to models, strategies, and measures. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research

Source: http://www.ncddr.org/kt/products/ktintro/figures1-6.html

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