Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Identifying the conditions needed for integrated knowledge translation (IKT) in health care organizations: qualitative interviews with researchers and research users

Authors: Anna R. Gagliardi, Mark J. Dobrow

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Collaboration among researchers and research users, or integrated knowledge translation (IKT), enhances the relevance and uptake of evidence into policy and practice. However, it is not widely practiced and, even when well-resourced, desired impacts may not be achieved. Given that large-scale investment is not the norm, further research is needed to identify how IKT can be optimized.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with researchers and research users (clinicians, managers) in a health care delivery (HCDO) and health care monitoring (HCMO) organization that differed in size and infrastructure, and were IKT-naïve. Basic qualitative description was used. Participants were asked about IKT activities and challenges, and recommendations for optimizing IKT. Data were analysed inductively using constant comparative technique.

Results

Forty-three interviews were conducted (28 HCDO, 15 HCMO) with 13 researchers, 8 clinicians, and 22 managers. Little to no IKT took place. Participants articulated similar challenges and recommendations revealing that a considerable number of changes were needed at the organizational, professional and individual levels. Given the IKT-absent state of participating organizations, this research identified a core set of conditions which must be addressed to prepare an environment conducive to IKT. These conditions were compiled into a framework by which organizations can plan for, or evaluate their capacity for IKT.

Conclusions

The IKT capacity framework is relevant for organizations in which there is no current IKT activity. Use of the IKT framework may result in more organizations that are ready to initiate and establish IKT, perhaps ultimately leading to more, and higher-quality collaboration for health system innovation. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in other organizations not yet resourced for, or undertaking IKT, and to explore the resource implications and mechanisms for establishing the conditions identified here as essential to preparing for IKT.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
McGlynn EA, Asch SM, Adams J, Keesey J, Hicks J, DeCristofaro A, Kerr EA. The quality of health care delivered to adults in the United States. NEJM. 2003;348:2635–45.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Sheldon TA, Cullum N, Dawson D, Lankshear A, Lowson K, Watt I, et al. What’s the evidence that NICE guidance has been implemented? Results from a national evaluation using time series analysis, audit of patients’ notes, and interviews. BMJ. 2004;329:999.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
3.
Runciman WB, Hunt TD, Hannaford NA, Hibbert PD, Westbrook JI, Coiera EW, Day RO. CareTrack: assessing the appropriateness of health care delivery in Australia. Med J Aust. 2012;197:100–5.CrossRefPubMed
4.
5.
Van de Ven AH, Johnson PE. Knowledge for theory and practice. Acad Manage Rev. 2006;31:802–21.CrossRef
6.
Kothari A, Wathen CN. A critical second look at integrated knowledge translation. Health Policy. 2013;109:187–91.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Oborn E, Barrett M, Prince K, Racko G. Balancing exploration and exploitation in transferring research into practice: a comparison of five knowledge translation entity archetypes. Implement Sci. 2013;8:104.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Lapaige VJ. Integrated knowledge translation for globally oriented public health practitioners and scientists: Framing together a sustainable transfrontier knowledge translation vision. J Multidisc Healthc. 2010;1:33–47.CrossRef
9.
Keown KD, Van Eerd D, Irvin E. Stakeholder engagement opportunities in systematic reviews: Knowledge transfer for policy and practice. J Cont Ed Health Prof. 2008;28:67–72.CrossRef
10.
Ross S, Lavis J, Rodriguez C, Woodside J, Denis JL. Partnership experiences: involving decision-makers in the research process. J Health Serv Policy Res. 2003;8 Suppl 2:26–34.CrossRef
11.
Lavis JN, Robertson D, Woodside JM, McLeod CB, Abelson J. How can research organizations more effectively transfer research knowledge to decision makers? Milbank Q. 2003;81:221–48.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Hofmeyer A, Scott C, Lagendyk L. Researcher-decision-maker partnerships in health services research: Practical challenges, guiding principles.”. Health Serv Res. 2012;12:280.CrossRef
13.
Denis JL, Lehoux P, Hivon M, Champagne F. Creating a new articulation between research and practice through policy? The views and experiences of researchers and practitioners. J Health Serv Policy Res. 2003;8 Suppl 2:44–50.CrossRef
14.
Gagliardi AR, Fraser N, Wright FC, Lemieux-Charles L, Davis D. Fostering knowledge exchange between researchers and decision-makers: exploring the effectiveness of a mixed-methods approach. Health Policy. 2008;86:53–63.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Newton MS, Estabrooks CA, Norton P, Birdsell JM, Adewale AJ, Thornley R. Health researchers in Alberta: an exploratory comparison of defining characteristics and knowledge translation activities. Implement Sci. 2007;2:1.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Ettelt S, Mays N. Health service research in Europe and its use for informing policy. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2011;16 Suppl 2:48–60.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Segrott J, McIvor M, Green B. Challenges and strategies in developing nursing research capacity: a review of the literature. Int J Nurs Studies. 2006;43:637–51.CrossRef
18.
Cooke J, Nancarrow S, Dyas J, Williams M. An evaluation of the Designated Research Team Approach to building research capacity in primary care. BMC Fam Pract. 2008;9:37.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
20.
Haas M. Health services research in Australia: an investigation of its current status. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2004;9 Suppl 2:3–9.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Dayan PS, Osmond M, Kuppermann N, Lang E, Klassen T, Johnson D. Development of the capacity necessary to perform and promote knowledge translation research in emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med. 2004;14:978–83.CrossRef
22.
Tetroe JM, Graham ID, Foy R, Robinson N, Eccles MP, Wensing M, et al. Health research funding agencies’ support and promotion of knowledge translation: an international study. Milbank Q. 2008;86:125–55.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Soper B, Yaqub O, Hinrichs S, Marjanovich S, Drabble S, Hanney S, Nolte E. CLAHRCs in practice: combined knowledge transfer and exchange strategies, cultural change, and experimentation. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2013;18 Suppl 3:53–64.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Currie G, Lockett A, El Enany N. From what we know to what we do: lessons learned from the translational CLAHRC initiative in England. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2013;18 Suppl 3:27–39.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Molleman G, Fransen G. Academic collaborative centres for health promotion in the Netherlands: building bridges between research, policy and practice. Fam Pract. 2012;29:157–62.CrossRef
26.
Jansen MW, De Leeuw E, Hoeijmakers M, De Vries NK. Working at the nexus between public health policy, practice and research. Dynamics of knowledge sharing in the Netherlands. Health Res Policy Syst. 2012;10:33.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Hoeijmakers M, Harting J, Jansen M. Academic Collaborative Centre Limburg: A platform for knowledge transfer and exchange in public health policy, research and practice? Health Policy. 2013;111:175–83.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Ward V, Smith S, House A, Hamer S. Exploring knowledge exchange: a useful framework for practice and policy. Soc Sci Med. 2012;74:297–304.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Auerbach CF, Silverstein LB. Qualitative data: an introduction to coding and analysis. New York: New York University Press; 2003.
30.
31.
Barbour RS. Checklists for improving rigour in qualitative research: a case of the tail wagging the dog? BMJ. 2011;322:1115–7.CrossRef
32.
Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19:349–57.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Robinson OC. Relational analysis: An add-on technique for aiding data integration in qualitative research. Qual Res Psychol. 2011;8:197–209.CrossRef
34.
35.
Kothari A, Sibbald SL, Wathen CN. Evaluation of partnerships in a transnational family violence prevention network using an integrated knowledge translation and exchange model. Health Res Policy Syst. 2014;12:25.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
36.
Camden C, Shikako-Thomas K, Nguyen T, Graham E, Thomas A, Sprung J, et al. Engaging stakeholders in rehabilitation research: A scoping review of strategies used in partnerships and evaluation of impacts. Disability Rehab. 2014;37(15):1390–400. doi:10.​3109/​09638288.​2014.​963705.CrossRef
37.
Ovreteit J, Hempel S, Magnabosco JL, Mittman BS, Rubenstein LV, Ganz DA. Guidance for research-practice partnerships (R-PPs) and collaborative research. J Health Organ Manage. 2014;28:115–26.CrossRef
38.
Guise JM, O’Haire CO, McPheeters M, Most C, LaBrant L, Lee K, et al. A practice-based tool for engaging stakeholders in future research: a synthesis of current practices. J Clin Epi. 2013;66:666–74.CrossRef
39.
Kothari A, MacLean L, Edwards N, Hobbs A. Indicators at the interface: managing policymaker-researcher collaboration. Knowledge Manage Res Pract. 2011;9:203–14.CrossRef
40.
Kothari A, Edwards N, Hamel N, Judd M. Is research working for you? Validating a tool to examine the capacity of health organizations to use research. Implement Sci. 2009;4:46.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
41.
D’Amour D, Ferrada-Videla M, San Martin Rodriguez L, Beaulieu MD. The conceptual basis for interprofessional collaboration: Core concepts and theoretical frameworks. J Interprof Care. 2005;19 Suppl 1:116–31.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Thompson GN, Estabrooks CA, Degner LF. Clarifying the concepts in knowledge transfer: a literature review. J Adv Nurs. 2006;53:691–701.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Locock L, Dopson S, Chambers L, Gabbay J. Understanding the role of opinion leaders in improving clinical effectiveness. Soc Sci Med. 2001;53:745–57.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Flodgren G, Parmelli E, Doumit G, Gattellari M, O’Brien MA, Grimshaw J, Eccles MP. Local opinion leaders: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;8:CD000125.PubMed
45.
Kram KE. Phases of the mentor relationship. Acad Manage J. 1983;26:608–25.CrossRef
46.
Gagliardi AR, Webster F, Perrier L, Bell M, Straus S. Exploring mentorship as a strategy to build capacity for knowledge translation research and practice: a scoping systematic review. Implement Sci. 2014;9:122.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Identifying the conditions needed for integrated knowledge translation (IKT) in health care organizations: qualitative interviews with researchers and research users
Authors
Anna R. Gagliardi
Mark J. Dobrow
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1533-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

BMC Health Services Research 1/2016 Go to the issue

Research article

Influences on uptake of cancer screening in mental health service users: a qualitative study

Research article

A systematic review of the quality of studies on dementia prevalence in Italy

Research article

Utilization of youth friendly services and associated factors among youth in Harar town, east Ethiopia: a mixed method study

Research article

Improving the user experience of patient versions of clinical guidelines: user testing of a Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) patient version

Research article

Examining the role of a decision aid in reducing decisional conflict amongst hospital healthcare workers towards receiving the influenza vaccine

Research Article

Analysis of the impact of different service levels on the workload of an ambulance service provider