Knowledge Translation ToolkitKnowledge Translation Toolkit

Questions to be addressed regarding Questions to be addressed regarding KT in research projects.KT in research projects.

ByBy

Yvon Allard M.Sc.Yvon Allard M.Sc.

Policy AnalystPolicy Analyst

Métis Centre @ NAHOMétis Centre @ NAHO

Métis Centre @ NAHOMétis Centre @ NAHO

A key objective of the Métis Centre @ NAHO A key objective of the Métis Centre @ NAHO is to transfer research findings and new is to transfer research findings and new knowledge into policy and practice to improve knowledge into policy and practice to improve primary health care for the Métis and improve primary health care for the Métis and improve the health status and health outcomes of the the health status and health outcomes of the Métis.Métis.

Knowledge translation for MC@NAHO Knowledge translation for MC@NAHO involves the systematic examination of:involves the systematic examination of:

the origin of the research;the origin of the research;the assumptions underpinning the research process;the assumptions underpinning the research process;the degree to which the research is perceived to the degree to which the research is perceived to have resulted in changes to policy, practice and have resulted in changes to policy, practice and health outcomes for organizations and Métis/First health outcomes for organizations and Métis/First Nations/Inuit (M/FN/I) communities; andNations/Inuit (M/FN/I) communities; andthe perceptions of factors which impeded or the perceptions of factors which impeded or supported the translation of the research into supported the translation of the research into improved health outcomes and health status for improved health outcomes and health status for M/FN/I communities.M/FN/I communities.

Dr. Mason Durie (Maori Dr. Mason Durie (Maori Researcher) (Durie 2004):Researcher) (Durie 2004):

““Indigenous knowledge cannot be verified by Indigenous knowledge cannot be verified by scientific criteria nor can science be adequately scientific criteria nor can science be adequately assessed according to the tenets of indigenous assessed according to the tenets of indigenous knowledge. Each is built on distinctive philosophies, knowledge. Each is built on distinctive philosophies, methodologies, and criteria.” methodologies, and criteria.”

““The challenge is to afford each belief system its own The challenge is to afford each belief system its own integrity, while developing approaches that can integrity, while developing approaches that can incorporate aspects of both and lead to innovation, incorporate aspects of both and lead to innovation, greater relevance, and additional opportunities for the greater relevance, and additional opportunities for the creation of new knowledge.” creation of new knowledge.”

Concept of Knowledge TranslationConcept of Knowledge Translation

Knowledge Translation is an overarching paradigm Knowledge Translation is an overarching paradigm (concept) that encompasses both research transfer and (concept) that encompasses both research transfer and knowledge brokering. knowledge brokering. Knowledge translation encourages research findings Knowledge translation encourages research findings and new knowledge to be taken up in evidence-based and new knowledge to be taken up in evidence-based policy, service delivery and practice. policy, service delivery and practice. Processes that encourage stakeholder involvement are Processes that encourage stakeholder involvement are a particular focus of Knowledge Translation, as is a particular focus of Knowledge Translation, as is detailed dissemination planning and targeting key detailed dissemination planning and targeting key positions in stakeholder groupspositions in stakeholder groups. .

Concept of Knowledge TranslationConcept of Knowledge Translation

There is a critical need for capacity exchange or There is a critical need for capacity exchange or capacity development for conducting research in capacity development for conducting research in Métis/First Nations/Inuit (M/FN/I) communities. Métis/First Nations/Inuit (M/FN/I) communities. This requires the exchange of knowledge, skills and This requires the exchange of knowledge, skills and resources to build research capacity on an individual, resources to build research capacity on an individual, organizational, community and workforce level. organizational, community and workforce level. Increased research capacity for M/FN/I involves Increased research capacity for M/FN/I involves developing workforce skills, research project developing workforce skills, research project management skills, partnerships and other resources management skills, partnerships and other resources such quantitative and qualitative analyses skills.such quantitative and qualitative analyses skills.

Knowledge Translation (KT) Knowledge Translation (KT) involves both:involves both:

Research TransferResearch Transfer

andand

Knowledge BrokerageKnowledge Brokerage

Research TransferResearch Transfer

Population health policy, in the form of laws, Population health policy, in the form of laws, guidelines, and regulations, has a profound effect on guidelines, and regulations, has a profound effect on health status and health outcomes.health status and health outcomes.

Research Transfer is making sure research is used to Research Transfer is making sure research is used to inform policy, practice and service provision.inform policy, practice and service provision.

Research transfer requires use of more dynamic Research transfer requires use of more dynamic mechanisms for engaging stakeholders in order to mechanisms for engaging stakeholders in order to increase their uptake and application of research increase their uptake and application of research information (and thereby enhance the decision-making information (and thereby enhance the decision-making process). process).

Research Transfer (cont.)Research Transfer (cont.)

KT is in part a recognition of the difference between:KT is in part a recognition of the difference between: data (unorganized facts);data (unorganized facts); information (data plus specific context); information (data plus specific context); and knowledge (information plus and knowledge (information plus

judgement based on world view).judgement based on world view).

Métis/First Nations/Inuit (M/FN/I) knowledge must Métis/First Nations/Inuit (M/FN/I) knowledge must be created with an Indigenous perspective to translate be created with an Indigenous perspective to translate data to information, and finally into new Indigenous data to information, and finally into new Indigenous knowledge.knowledge.

Knowledge BrokeringKnowledge Brokering

Knowledge Brokerage is connecting people with Knowledge Brokerage is connecting people with people, people with information, and people with people, people with information, and people with other people with specific skill sets in order to help other people with specific skill sets in order to help solve problems in communities.solve problems in communities.

The principles of OCAP are integral to knowledge The principles of OCAP are integral to knowledge brokerage in M/FN/I research projects. Tbrokerage in M/FN/I research projects. The he development of a community-driven health research development of a community-driven health research infrastructure is seen as a long-term benefit of OCAP. infrastructure is seen as a long-term benefit of OCAP.

KT and “Social Marketing”KT and “Social Marketing”

““Social Marketing” is a technique used in Social Marketing” is a technique used in knowledge translation. Social Marketing talks knowledge translation. Social Marketing talks to the consumer (target populations), not about to the consumer (target populations), not about the product.the product.

In social marketing, the primary focus is on In social marketing, the primary focus is on the consumer-- on learning what people want the consumer-- on learning what people want and need rather than trying to persuade them to and need rather than trying to persuade them to buy what we happen to be producing. buy what we happen to be producing.

KT and PolicyKT and Policy

Increased knowledge on health issues

Evidence-based decisions

Capacity

Improved health status and health outcomes

KT

Strategic research planning by M/FN/I Strategic research planning by M/FN/I organizations and communities.organizations and communities.

How should M/FN/I (and non- M/FN/I ) How should M/FN/I (and non- M/FN/I ) organizations and communities set research priorities organizations and communities set research priorities which are likely to lead to improvements in M/FN/I which are likely to lead to improvements in M/FN/I health, as well as increased knowledge? health, as well as increased knowledge?

Knowledge translation is the linkage between the Knowledge translation is the linkage between the processes of research and the processes of decision-processes of research and the processes of decision-making in policy and practice, at national, regional, making in policy and practice, at national, regional, community and individual levels. community and individual levels.

KT and Research Project CommitteesKT and Research Project Committees

Knowledge translation operates in two directions: Knowledge translation operates in two directions: research-based knowledge can influence decisions, research-based knowledge can influence decisions, and the problems of the decision-maker and/or and the problems of the decision-maker and/or consumer can guide the researcher.consumer can guide the researcher.Organizations and communities must establish a Organizations and communities must establish a research committee or review process to assess research committee or review process to assess research proposals.research proposals.Research committees must develop criteria for Research committees must develop criteria for evaluating research proposals. The MC Toolkit is evaluating research proposals. The MC Toolkit is such a process to integrate KT into the research such a process to integrate KT into the research process.process.

Planning Planning KnowledgeKnowledge Translation Translation

The Métis Centre “KT Toolkit” is a set of 10 The Métis Centre “KT Toolkit” is a set of 10 questions that should be addressed in the planning questions that should be addressed in the planning stages of any M/FN/I research project. The answers stages of any M/FN/I research project. The answers derived by the planning committee are incorporated derived by the planning committee are incorporated into the ‘Research and Funding Proposal’. into the ‘Research and Funding Proposal’.

KT is therefore addressed and planned for at the front KT is therefore addressed and planned for at the front end of a project, rather than as an afterthought.end of a project, rather than as an afterthought.

10 Questions in Planning KT10 Questions in Planning KT

The following 10 questions should be asked by The following 10 questions should be asked by research committees/teams and its research committees/teams and its stakeholders (organizations, communities) to stakeholders (organizations, communities) to make operational and to incorporate the make operational and to incorporate the concept of Knowledge Translation (KT) in concept of Knowledge Translation (KT) in regards to research in M/FN/I communities.regards to research in M/FN/I communities.

Q1. Q1. What is this project What is this project trying to achieve?trying to achieve?

What do you hope will happen as a result of What do you hope will happen as a result of the research project in regards to health the research project in regards to health status and outcomes in M/FN/I communities? status and outcomes in M/FN/I communities?

Is it likely to have an impact on health Is it likely to have an impact on health service provision, health professionals’ service provision, health professionals’ practice, policy and funding allocations, practice, policy and funding allocations, treatment options, building capacity, or treatment options, building capacity, or informing healthy behaviour?informing healthy behaviour?

Q2. Q2. Who are the potential users Who are the potential users of the outcomes or knowledge of the outcomes or knowledge

from the project?from the project?

Evidence shows that the involvement of Evidence shows that the involvement of potential users in the planning, conduct and potential users in the planning, conduct and dissemination of projects is likely to assist the dissemination of projects is likely to assist the uptake of research. uptake of research.

The research project committee has to The research project committee has to ‘market’ (i.e. social marketing) the KT process ‘market’ (i.e. social marketing) the KT process to stakeholders, including the knowledge to stakeholders, including the knowledge created by the research project.created by the research project.

Q3. Q3. How does this project How does this project relate to other current relate to other current

research work or trends in research work or trends in policy and practice?policy and practice?

Policy makers prefer to engage with a synthesis of Policy makers prefer to engage with a synthesis of knowledge rather than individual research project knowledge rather than individual research project reports. If the findings of the research project puts reports. If the findings of the research project puts forward radically new treatment options, you may forward radically new treatment options, you may anticipate some resistance from potential users. anticipate some resistance from potential users.

One of the biggest challenges to research transfer is One of the biggest challenges to research transfer is that users will adopt research findings most easily if that users will adopt research findings most easily if the findings match their own preconceived beliefs the findings match their own preconceived beliefs or world view. They will be very slow to adopt any or world view. They will be very slow to adopt any findings that don’t, such as Indigenous worldviews.findings that don’t, such as Indigenous worldviews.

Q4. Q4. How can you try to How can you try to ensure your project ensure your project achieves an impact?achieves an impact?

Involving potential users is one way. You also Involving potential users is one way. You also need to make sure that the ways you try to need to make sure that the ways you try to communicate with different potential users is communicate with different potential users is suitable for their needs. suitable for their needs. Translating research findings into changes in Translating research findings into changes in health policy may require the production of health policy may require the production of briefing notes, meetings with politicians and briefing notes, meetings with politicians and public servants, and an action-learning approach public servants, and an action-learning approach to implement the change at the level of service to implement the change at the level of service provision.provision.

Q5. Q5. What are the risks or What are the risks or obstacles to successful obstacles to successful

research transfer for this research transfer for this project?project?

Think about the potential barriers to research Think about the potential barriers to research transfer relevant to your project. Barriers transfer relevant to your project. Barriers might include a hostile political climate, or might include a hostile political climate, or language and cultural differences between language and cultural differences between researchers, policy makers and community researchers, policy makers and community members. members.

The creation of a Memorandum of The creation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among research Understanding (MOU) among research participants is a strategy that can be used.participants is a strategy that can be used.

Q6. Q6. What are the opportunities What are the opportunities which exist around this project which exist around this project

to facilitate knowledge to facilitate knowledge translation?translation?

One of the strongest facilitating factors is the deep One of the strongest facilitating factors is the deep desire of researchers and organizations to help desire of researchers and organizations to help communities and to improve the health status and communities and to improve the health status and health outcomes of M/FN/I peoples.health outcomes of M/FN/I peoples.What are the key issues and concepts that the What are the key issues and concepts that the research findings address? research findings address? What are the opportunities to lobby for changes to What are the opportunities to lobby for changes to programs and policies or to create new policies?programs and policies or to create new policies? What new strategies can be utilized to address What new strategies can be utilized to address health issues?health issues?

Q7. Q7. Can capacity development Can capacity development be an outcome of this project?be an outcome of this project?

Research is a capacity developing activity – by Research is a capacity developing activity – by planning carefully you can maximize the opportunities planning carefully you can maximize the opportunities for capacity development for project team members, for capacity development for project team members, participants, organizations and communities. participants, organizations and communities. A fundamental component of community-based A fundamental component of community-based research is to develop research capacity ‘within the research is to develop research capacity ‘within the community’. Researchers must be in place in M/FN/I community’. Researchers must be in place in M/FN/I communities and organizations (e.g. NAHO), as well communities and organizations (e.g. NAHO), as well as in universities, to engage in research and KT.as in universities, to engage in research and KT.

Q8. Q8. What are the dissemination What are the dissemination and publication requirements and publication requirements

for this project?for this project?Will it require the publication of a report, a journal Will it require the publication of a report, a journal article, the production of a video, a series of workshops article, the production of a video, a series of workshops or a media campaign?or a media campaign? Will the findings of the research project be published Will the findings of the research project be published in in M/FN/IM/FN/I media, such as newsletters, newspaper, media, such as newsletters, newspaper, radio, television, journals? This could be at the local, radio, television, journals? This could be at the local, regional, provincial/territorial, national and regional, provincial/territorial, national and international levels. international levels. Will the findings be presented at conferences organized Will the findings be presented at conferences organized by by M/FN/IM/FN/I organizations (NAHO, IAPH-CIHR, organizations (NAHO, IAPH-CIHR, Circumpolar Health)?Circumpolar Health)?

Q9. Q9. How have/will you provide How have/will you provide feedback to community feedback to community

organizations or members who organizations or members who participated in the research?participated in the research?

This is one of the most sensitive areas in Indigenous This is one of the most sensitive areas in Indigenous health research because in the past researchers often health research because in the past researchers often did not report back to communities and were seen did not report back to communities and were seen to be taking community knowledge and giving to be taking community knowledge and giving nothing back. nothing back. Effective engagement with communities and Effective engagement with communities and participants is also one of the richest potential areas participants is also one of the richest potential areas of learning. NAHO and it’s Centres provide advice of learning. NAHO and it’s Centres provide advice on effective strategies on learning.on effective strategies on learning.

Q10. Q10. How much will a KT How much will a KT process cost?process cost?

Make sure you budget for knowledge Make sure you budget for knowledge translation in the project proposal.translation in the project proposal. Effective strategies for knowledge translation Effective strategies for knowledge translation are likely to cost money, and are also very are likely to cost money, and are also very likely to take considerable time to make sure likely to take considerable time to make sure they work.they work.Without effective planning and budgeting for Without effective planning and budgeting for research transfer, all the hard work and research transfer, all the hard work and commitment of organizations and M/FN/I commitment of organizations and M/FN/I participants in doing the research may be participants in doing the research may be “lost in translation”.“lost in translation”.

10 Questions in KT10 Questions in KT

Q1. What is this project trying to achieve?Q1. What is this project trying to achieve?

Q2. Who are the potential users of the outcomes or knowledge Q2. Who are the potential users of the outcomes or knowledge from the project?from the project?

Q3. How does this project relate to other current research work Q3. How does this project relate to other current research work or trends in policy and practice?or trends in policy and practice?

  Q4. How can you try to ensure your project achieves an impact?Q4. How can you try to ensure your project achieves an impact?  Q5. What are the risks or obstacles to successful knowledge Q5. What are the risks or obstacles to successful knowledge

translation for this project?translation for this project?

10 KT Questions (cont.)10 KT Questions (cont.)

Q6. What are the opportunities which exist around this project to Q6. What are the opportunities which exist around this project to facilitate knowledge translation?facilitate knowledge translation?

Q7. Can capacity development be an outcome of this project?Q7. Can capacity development be an outcome of this project?

Q8. What are the dissemination and publication requirements for this Q8. What are the dissemination and publication requirements for this project?project?

Q9. How have/will you provide feedback to community Q9. How have/will you provide feedback to community organizations or members who participated in the research?organizations or members who participated in the research?

  Q10. How much will a KT process cost? Make sure you budget Q10. How much will a KT process cost? Make sure you budget for knowledge translation.for knowledge translation.

Knowledge Translation and Knowledge Translation and MC @ NAHO Strategic PlanMC @ NAHO Strategic Plan

The Métis Centre “KT Toolkit” is a tool to be utilized The Métis Centre “KT Toolkit” is a tool to be utilized in the planning stages of any M/FN/I community-based in the planning stages of any M/FN/I community-based research project. The Métis Centre @ NAHO will research project. The Métis Centre @ NAHO will actively support KT strategies designed to ensure that actively support KT strategies designed to ensure that new knowledge is shared and used to improve care, new knowledge is shared and used to improve care, treatment and prevention services, and to shape policy treatment and prevention services, and to shape policy in regards to health status and health outcomes in in regards to health status and health outcomes in M/FN/I Communities and Peoples. M/FN/I Communities and Peoples.