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Implementation Science
Published in: Implementation Science 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Methodology

Knowledge translation strategies to improve the use of evidence in public health decision making in local government: intervention design and implementation plan

Authors: Rebecca Armstrong, Elizabeth Waters, Maureen Dobbins, Laurie Anderson, Laurence Moore, Mark Petticrew, Rachel Clark, Tahna L. Pettman, Catherine Burns, Marjorie Moodie, Rebecca Conning, Boyd Swinburn

Published in: Implementation Science | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Knowledge translation strategies are an approach to increase the use of evidence within policy and practice decision-making contexts. In clinical and health service contexts, knowledge translation strategies have focused on individual behavior change, however the multi-system context of public health requires a multi-level, multi-strategy approach. This paper describes the design of and implementation plan for a knowledge translation intervention for public health decision making in local government.

Methods

Four preliminary research studies contributed findings to the design of the intervention: a systematic review of knowledge translation intervention effectiveness research, a scoping study of knowledge translation perspectives and relevant theory literature, a survey of the local government public health workforce, and a study of the use of evidence-informed decision-making for public health in local government. A logic model was then developed to represent the putative pathways between intervention inputs, processes, and outcomes operating between individual-, organizational-, and system-level strategies. This formed the basis of the intervention plan.

Results

The systematic and scoping reviews identified that effective and promising strategies to increase access to research evidence require an integrated intervention of skill development, access to a knowledge broker, resources and tools for evidence-informed decision making, and networking for information sharing. Interviews and survey analysis suggested that the intervention needs to operate at individual and organizational levels, comprising workforce development, access to evidence, and regular contact with a knowledge broker to increase access to intervention evidence; develop skills in appraisal and integration of evidence; strengthen networks; and explore organizational factors to build organizational cultures receptive to embedding evidence in practice. The logic model incorporated these inputs and strategies with a set of outcomes to measure the intervention’s effectiveness based on the theoretical frameworks, evaluation studies, and decision-maker experiences.

Conclusion

Documenting the design of and implementation plan for this knowledge translation intervention provides a transparent, theoretical, and practical approach to a complex intervention. It provides significant insights into how practitioners might engage with evidence in public health decision making. While this intervention model was designed for the local government context, it is likely to be applicable and generalizable across sectors and settings.

Trial registration

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12609000953​235.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Knowledge translation strategies to improve the use of evidence in public health decision making in local government: intervention design and implementation plan
Authors
Rebecca Armstrong
Elizabeth Waters
Maureen Dobbins
Laurie Anderson
Laurence Moore
Mark Petticrew
Rachel Clark
Tahna L. Pettman
Catherine Burns
Marjorie Moodie
Rebecca Conning
Boyd Swinburn
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Implementation Science / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1748-5908
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-8-121

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