Communicating Evidence Knowledge Transfer - Disseminating Research Findings Mary Law Mary Law, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
Knowledge Transfer What is knowledge transfer? What factors affect knowledge transfer?
Social learning involves: Social Learning (a) promotional activities to interest and motivate people to change behaviour (b) skills training (to encourage self-efficacy beliefs) (c) development of support networks to maintain the new behaviours (d) maintenance of behaviour through reinforcement and generalization to different settings
Social Marketing Social marketing emphasizes the role of communication and marketing techniques to increase the acceptability of an idea or practice. It involves ensuring that the idea or practice is: (a) desirable to the target group (b) promoted through various media (c) adequately distributed.
Facilitating Change The best techniques for changing individuals attitudes or behavior are: (a) active participation (b) persuasive communication (c) empowering individuals
Knowledge Transfer The dissemination source must be perceived as competent, credible and trustworthy The content must be perceived as relevant, usable, methodologically sound, and comprehensive to users.
Knowledge Transfer The medium must be timely, accessible, userfriendly and clearly understandable. The intended user must perceive the relevance of the materials to their own needs, and understand the material in the context of their work.
Evidence-based Communication What is the role of the person receiving knowledge? What decisions will be made? Obtain and interpret research evidence Communicate evidence in an understandable way Tickle-Degnen, 2001
Communicating Evidence to: Clients and families? Managers? Decision-makers?
Methods of Knowledge Transfer Continuing education courses (interactive/didactic) Expert opinion Journal articles/educational materials Research summaries/abstracts Audit and feedback Educational outreach (academic detailing) Educational influentials/opinion leaders Clinical guidelines
Problem size/complexity of research developing evidencebased policy lack of access organizational barriers Potential Solution abstract services/research summaries evidence-based guidelines information systems to integrate evidence and care guidelines administrative leadership and incentives for EBP
Evidence-based Transfer Model
Practicing Evidence Based OT? What should practitioners aim for? Awareness Consultation Judgement Creativity
Awareness Therapists must be aware of the evidence which has to do with their practice This means finding effective ways of staying up-todate with the new research happening in the field Instead of awareness of everything without comprehension, the goal is focused awareness, or a knowledge of where to look It is important that each practitioner find their own intuitive way to stay up-to-date
Consultation Evidence based clinical practice is an approach to decision making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available, in consultation with the patient, to decide upon the option which suits that patient best Muir Gray, JA. (1997) Evidence-based healthcare: how to make health policy and management decisions. London: Churchill Livingstone. An essential part of practitioners jobs is to be good communicators Practitioners who are able to discuss why they are practicing evidence-based OT and what is happening to their clients will be the most successful
Judgment There are problems inherent in the evidence used by EBP Example: Meta Analyses which are successful for average randomized client may not apply to specific cases, and can be misleading Practitioners must possess good clinical judgment to tailor the evidence to the specifics of each client s situation.
Creativity Using the best evidence in the best way will not always be straightforward, and practitioners will have to use their creative skills to meet the challenges of real life. Evidence-based OT enables practitioners to write their own textbook, and teach themselves what they need: this makes independent thinking essential. In short, all of EBP is somewhere both a science and an art, requiring creativity and insight to work correctly.
Knowledge Transfer Exercise Read the academic summary of the Family-Centred Service Survey research Write the results and implications of this research for: practitioners consumers/families policy-makers/government
Partnership and evidence in practice Create the culture Prioritize Collaborate Question
What will I do? Read one journal article every week Implement one outcome measure in your practice Each month, select a client and do a literature review related to that person and their occupational performance issues Start a journal club Include evidence when you communicate to clients, service providers, managers
What will I do? Develop an evidence-based work culture Support courses that are evidence-based Share evidence with colleagues Link with your local university to develop evidence