Strategies to promote uptake and use of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment knowledge: an integrative review

Abstract

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment (CM) are major social and public health problems. Knowledge translation (KT) of best available research evidence has been suggested as a strategy to improve the care of those exposed to violence, however research on how best to promote the uptake and use of IPV and CM evidence for policy and practice is limited. Our research asked: 1) What is the extent of IPV/CM-specific KT research? 2) What KT strategies effectively translate IPV/CM knowledge? and 3) What are the barriers and facilitators relevant to translating IPV/CM-specific knowledge?MethodsWe conducted an integrative review to summarize and synthesize the available evidence regarding IPV/CM-specific KT research. We employed multiple search methods, including database searches of Embase, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts, and Medline (through April, 2013). Eligibility and quality assessments for each article were conducted by at least two team members. Included articles were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and qualitatively using descriptive content analysis.ResultsOf 1230 identified articles, 62 were included in the review, including 5 review articles. KT strategies were generally successful at improving various knowledge/attitude and behavioural/behavioural intention outcomes, but the heterogeneity among KT strategies, recipients, study designs and measured outcomes made it difficult to draw specific conclusions. Four key themes were identified: existing measurement tools and promising/effective KT strategies are underused, KT efforts are rarely linked to health-related outcomes for those exposed to violence, there is a lack of evidence regarding the long-term effectiveness of KT interventions, and authors’ inferences about barriers, facilitators, and effective/ineffective KT strategies are often not supported by data. The emotional and sometimes contested nature of the knowledge appears to be an important barrier unique to IPV/CM KT.ConclusionsTo direct future KT in this area, we present a guiding framework that highlights the need for implementers to use/adapt promising KT strategies that carefully consider contextual factors, including the fact that content in IPV/CM may be more difficult to engage with than other health topics. The framework also provides guidance regarding use of measurement tools and designs to more effectively evaluate and report on KT efforts.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-862) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The case for intimate partner violence education: early, essential and evidence-based

“…conclude that there is a positive effect of selected interventions on KASB in allied HPs . This finding is similar to that of MacGregor and colleagues, who examined the evidence for continuing professional education and knowledge translation strategies in IPV and child maltreatment. Common across reviews of IPV education for physicians and allied HPs are: (i) an emphasis on the importance of IPV education because of the associated morbidity and mortality worldwide, and (ii) acknowledgement that the impact of these educational interventions on patient outcomes remains unknown.…”

“…The reviews by Sawyer et al . and others provide a starting point for the adoption of evidence‐based IPV education, but this complex public health problem requires more than individualistic approaches to competency acquisition. We propose that IPV and other types of family violence education incorporate a collectivist approach, as articulated by Lingard, that examines team as well as individual performance.…”

Moving knowledge about family violence into public health policy and practice: a mixed method study of a deliberative dialogue

“…These two prospects for change were met in our evaluation study, and we were able to tailor the KT strategy to suit a particular audience, namely a transnational violence prevention network. Thus, while it may be feasible to tailor system-level KT strategies based on available research guidance, it is not clear whether the approach to tailoring is effective [ 29 ]. Our findings do suggest there is some potential impact; however, future research in this area must continue to evaluate KT effects (including benefits, harms and costs [ 30 ]) to determine whether efforts to tailor KT strategies are worthwhile.…”

Exploring the knowledge translation of domestic violence research: A literature review

“…funding bodies) and subject to change (e.g. policymakers) (Beckett et al., 2016; MacGregor et al., 2014).…”

“…Although there is extensive research on knowledge translation, there are few domestic violence knowledge translation reviews. A notable exception is the MacGregor, Wathen, Kothari, Hundal, and Naimi (2014) review of specific strategies to promote domestic violence knowledge translation. However, the lack of consistently reported data made it difficult for the reviewers to describe conclusions.…”