International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Backwards Design or looking Sideways? Knowledge Translation in the Real World; Comment on “A Call for a Backward Design to Knowledge Translation”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Sarah Bowen
Ian D. Graham
School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
10.15171/ijhpm.2015.71
Abstract
El-Jardali and Fadllallah provide an excellent summary of the many dimensions of knowledge use, and the breath of issues and activities that must be considered if knowledge is to be put into practice. However, reliance on a continuum (rather than a cyclical, multidirectional, systems) model creates a number of limitations, particularly when promoting evidence-informed action in the areas of health policy and management, where diverse forms of knowledge must be synthesized and decisions made in a rapidly evolving context. We propose a paradigm shift - from viewing Knowledge Translation (KT) as a linear ‘knowledge transfer’ activity, to a commitment to full stakeholder engagement in knowledge production, dissemination and implementation
Keywords
Knowledge Translation (KT)
Engaged Scholarship
Evidence Use
Subjects
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  • Received Date 21 February 2015
  • Revised Date 19 March 2015
  • Accepted Date 19 March 2015
  • First Published Date 01 August 2015
  • Published Date 01 August 2015