The Art of Translation: Arts-Based Knowledge Translation and its Application to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Contemporary knowledge translation has reduced the knowledge-practice gap, however multifaceted, diverse approaches ensure that knowledge created by research endeavors reaches diverse audiences. Arts-based knowledge translation (ABKT) can improve information accessibility and retention while fostering community engagement, cohesion, and collaborative problem solving. To address the limited available guidance on using ABKT and the resulting inconsistencies in practice, we present a practical framework for applying ABKT methods to research dissemination which we developed through a review of existing frameworks and their use in previous initiatives. Our framework guides users through key considerations for selecting and refining ABKT methods. Pre-established goals serve as the foundation for selecting ABKT methods and refinements should consider context-, people-, and project-related factors which influence the impact of ABKT initiatives. Process and outcome evaluations must be aligned with goals. We showcase the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) as a strong example of a field which may be readily communicated using ABKT. The complexity within the field of DOHaD, along with evidence supporting a need for multipronged dissemination strategies, makes DOHaD well suited to approaches that transcend social and cultural barriers and encourage reflection. This review showcases the potential of ABKT to support inclusive and impactful research communication across diverse public health fields.