Knowledge translation research in population health: establishing a collaborative research agenda

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the increasing mobilization of researchers and funding organizations around knowledge translation (KT) in Canada and elsewhere, many questions have been only partially answered, particularly in the field of population health. This article presents the results of a systematic process to draw out possible avenues of collaboration for researchers, practitioners and decision-makers who work in the area of KT. The main objective was to establish a research agenda on knowledge translation in population health.MethodsUsing the Concept Mapping approach, the research team wanted to identify priority themes for the development of research on KT in population health. Mapping is based on multivariate statistical analyses (multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis) in which statements produced during a brainstorming session are grouped in weighted clusters. The final maps are a visual representation of the priority themes of research on KT. Especially designed for facilitating consensus in the understanding and organization of various concepts, the Concept Mapping method proved suitable for achieving this objective.ResultsThe maps were produced by 19 participants from university settings, and from institutions within the health and social services network. Three main perspectives emerge from this operation: (1) The evaluation of the effectiveness of KT efforts is one of the main research priorities; (2) The importance of taking into consideration user contexts in any KT effort; (3) The challenges related to sharing power for decision-making and action-taking among various stakeholder groups. These perspectives open up avenues of collaboration for stakeholders who are involved in research on KT. Besides these three main perspectives, the concept maps reveal three other trends which should be emphasized.ConclusionThe Concept Mapping process reported in this article aimed to provoke collective reflection on the research questions that should be studied, in order to foster coherence in research activities in the field of population health. Based on this, it is appropriate to continue to support the development of research projects in KT and the formation of research teams in this field. Research on KT must lead to concrete outcomes within communities that are interested in the question.

A study protocol for applying the co-creating knowledge translation framework to a population health study

“…Dagenais et al (2009) note that few studies present results on the effects of populations that are the subjects of interventions [3]. The co-KT Framework incorporates methods of evaluation within each step and at the completion of the research study and attention will be given to collating evaluation data from the LINKIN Health Study.…”

“…The impact of KT on population health studies is of interest to the research community, as there is a need for empirical studies of the effectiveness of KT in improving the health of the population by changing practices [3]. Others have identified priorities for KT development work such as the need for better structural conceptualising of KT and the need to adapt KT strategies to context [3].…”

“…Others have identified priorities for KT development work such as the need for better structural conceptualising of KT and the need to adapt KT strategies to context [3]. Further it has identified that the majority of researcher-practice frameworks address only one phase (sometimes two) of the process of research-practice translation [4].…”

Knowledge Translation Research: The Science of Moving Research Into Policy and Practice

“…55,11 However, collaborative structures which support the development of KT research methods are beginning to appear internationally. Dagenais et al 56 spearheaded an initiative in Quebec to foster coherence in KT research and intervention activities in the field of population health. In 2007, the Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference was held to address the specific research methodologies most appropriate for studying knowledge translation interventions in emergency medicine.…”

Les représentations sociales de la ruralité et l’urbanité québécoise contemporaine. Une approche par la cartographie conceptuelle

“…Dans un deuxième temps, ces données agrégées ont permis de mener des analyses non métriques d'échelonnage multidimensionnel (bi-dimensional nonmetric multidimensions scaling of similarity matrix) dans le but de hiérarchiser et de répartir des points -les énoncés -sur un axe vertical et horizontal (XY) en fonction de leur distance relationnelle 9 . Dans un troisième temps, des analyses statistiques multivariées de classifi cation ascendante hiérarchique (hierarchical clustering) basées sur l'algorithme de Ward (Kane et Trochim, 2007) ont aussi été menées pour regrouper en grappes les éléments qui représentent des concepts similaires (Dagenais et al, 2009). La carte conceptuelle prend donc la forme d'un graphique bidimensionnel composé de nuages de points, formant des grappes ou clusters qui représentent divers concepts ou dimensions de la ruralité et de l'urbanité québécoise contemporaine.…”