A New Perspective on Emerging Knowledge Translation Practices; Comment on "Sustaining Knowledge Translation Practices: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis"

Abstract

The Critical Interpretive Synthesis by Borst and colleagues offered a new perspective on knowledge translation (KT) sustainability from the perspective of Science Technology Studies. From our applied health services perspective, we found several interesting ideas to bring forward. First, the idea that KT sustainability includes the ongoing activation of networks led to several future research questions. Second, while not entirely a new concept, understanding how KT actors work strategically and continuously with institutional rules and regulations to sustain KT practice was noteworthy. We add to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of non-researcher voices (clinicians, administrators, policymakers, patients, carers, public) in sustaining KT practice. We also remind readers that the health ecosystem is dynamic and interdependent, where one system level influences and is influenced by another, and that these constant adaptations suggest that understanding KT practices cannot be a one-off event but represent repeated moments for transformative learning.

The Knowledge Translation Pizza-Dilemma: A Response to Recent Commentaries

“…We therefore enthusiastically welcome the plea of Edelman and Topp 2 to extend our thinking to ‘non-clinical settings’ and that such populations also necessitate different forms of KT. Kothari and Cameron 3 eloquently capture that this also includes “rebalance[ ing ] the power of underserved voices or hidden knowledge through KT work” – they are absolutely right in noting that any process of doing and sustaining KT does not solely rely on researchers or explicit ‘knowledge producers,’ but revolves in the wider constellation of caretakers, community members, or other – often underserved – voices. Following how KT travels and is provided meaning locally thus forms an important area of future study (cf.…”