Knowledge Translation for researchers: developing training to support public health researchers KTE efforts

Calls for new knowledge products are increasingly accompanied with a need to plan research and produce findings that are relevant and useful to decision-making in policy and practice. Researchers have a history of participating in Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE or KT) activities; however, these are often performed informally and with a focus on end-of-project dissemination. KTE is defined as a process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve health.1 The aim of KTE is to ensure that stakeholders are aware of and use research evidence to inform decision-making, and that research is informed by available evidence and the experience and information needs of stakeholders. To implement KTE strategies that are likely to be effective, researchers require knowledge and skills in a number of different areas. However, at least in Australia, capacity building initiatives to improve researchers' KTE skills, and incentives to conduct practice- and policy-relevant research, are limited. Public Health Insight is a new initiative that focuses on ensuring that decision-making of relevance to public health will be informed by high-quality, timely research evidence. Public Health Insight conducts research, provides training and consultancy services, and incorporates the Cochrane Public Health Group. Public Health Insight recently sought to develop a professional development (training) course that would cater for researchers' knowledge translations needs. To respond to researcher KT needs and to ensure that stakeholder needs were identified, scoping research was carried out in preparation for the course. The scoping research proposed three questions: (i) What does the international evidence tell us about building KTE capacity? (ii) What KTE training is currently available internationally? (iii) What awareness, knowledge and skills do Australian public health researchers wish to develop? The objective in undertaking the scoping research was to understand how professional development, in the format of a training course, could strengthen public health researchers' KTE efforts. A literature review was conducted to understand the skills, strategies and knowledge required by researchers to conduct effective KTE. Both peer-reviewed published reports and grey literature were searched. The literature review identified four themes as important for KTE within research: first, KTE efforts could be improved with increased understanding of KTE theory2–4; second, planning and implementing KTE strategies into research projects was necessary3–8; and third, developing relationships with end users throughout the research cycle.2 A number of factors for establishing relationships were also outlined: the importance of understanding cultural differences,9 developing opportunities for dialogue/interaction with end users9,10 and developing quality relationships that are trustful and establish credibility with both par ties.11 Fourth and finally, the importance of communicating research effectively was also described,2,7,12 which included tailored messaging,13 relevant and accessible information and engagement in two-way communication.10 To understand what KTE training was available internationally, a search of existing KTE capacity building initiatives for researchers was conducted using search terms including policy, impact and knowledge translation in Google search (no country or site type restrictions). Online searching identified a number of courses and resources developed and delivered predominantly in Canada and the UK. These courses aimed to develop knowledge and skills in the following areas: theory and application of KTE; KTE strategies and plans; information and skills for developing relationships with decision-makers; information/theory on the barriers to working with decision-makers; communication skills; designing research communications to reach policymakers; information on research impact, dissemination planning; and how to communicate with decision-makers. To ensure relevance to a local audience, a series of interviews with researchers in Australia were conducted to understand their professional development needs (e.g. awareness, knowledge, confidence, skills). Interviews with nine senior and mid-career researchers in public health and population health research were carried out by phone or face to face. Detailed notes were taken and data were analysed by KJ using thematic analysis. Common themes were identified as they emerged from the data using the semi-structured interview questions as a guide. The interview data identified a number of areas where researchers wished for further support, including developing KT plans; developing and maintaining high-quality relationships with decision-makers; and developing skills for effective communication. In scoping for a new training course focusing on Knowledge Translation for researchers, consistent themes emerged from a literature review, online search and researcher interviews. Together with current KTE perspectives, theory and evidence, these themes were used to develop and inform content for a course that aimed to meet researchers' needs. A pilot course (half-day) was developed and delivered in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2014. The pilot course was refined based on qualitative evaluation, and two full one-day courses were delivered and evaluated in February 2015. The course offers practical strategies for researchers, across five key themes: (i) KTE theory and science (ii) planning for KTE, (iii) developing relationships for engagement and exchange with decision-makers, (iv) communicating research and (v) evaluating KTE and research impact. Evaluation of both one-day courses demonstrated that all course components rated highly for relevance, quality and usefulness. In addition, before and after evaluation suggested increased understanding and confidence gained in KTE theory, planning and communications. The new training course Knowledge translation for researchers' by Public Health Insight has been well received within Australia and has been found to be relevant and useful to a range of public health, health services and clinical researchers. With broader rollout, uptake and ongoing evaluation, this training has the potential to build the confidence and competence of researchers to undertake more comprehensive KTE. Public Health Insight incorporates the Cochrane Public Health Group. The CPHG acknowledges the financial support of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the National Health and Medical Research Council. The authors acknowledge the research assistance of Ms Tahnee Saunders in preparing course content. Public Health Insight also acknowledge a number of courses that were used in developing the content for an Australian public health research context. Courses: (http://www.inasp.info/en/training-resources/courses/courses/62/, http://ktclearinghouse.ca/ktcanada/education/stihrtraining/stream3, http://www.sickkids.ca/Learning/AbouttheInstitute/Programs/Knowledge-Translation/Scientist-Knowledge-Translation-Training-Workshop/Scientist-Knowledge-Tranlation-Training-Workshop.html, http://www.natcen.ac.uk/events-and-training/our-training/open-courses/influencing-policy-with-research, http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/crich/reports/kt-toolkit/, http://www.sandy-campbell.com/sc/KTC_Overview.html). New Cochrane protocols and reviews of interest to health promotion and public health stakeholders in Dec 2014–March 2015 of The Cochrane Library (*denotes CPHG review/protocol). New reviews (or those with an updated search) Community-wide interventions for increasing physical activity* HIV prevention advice for people with serious mental illness. Household interventions for preventing domestic lead exposure in children. Face washing promotion for preventing active trachoma. Universal school-based prevention for illicit drug use. Pneumococcal vaccination during pregnancy for preventing infant infection. Social norms information for alcohol misuse in university and college students. Hormone therapy for preventing cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women. Reduced dietary salt for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Food supplementation for improving the physical and psychosocial health of socioeconomically disadvantaged children aged 3 months to 5 years. Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) for the diagnosis of dementia within a secondary care setting. Interventions to reduce waiting times for elective procedures. Motivational interviewing for smoking cessation. Graduated compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Interventions to increase adherence to medications for tobacco dependence. Personalized care planning for adults with chronic or long-term health conditions. Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Family-based programmes for preventing smoking by children and adolescents Transcendental meditation for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation and reduction. Interventions for preventing falls in older people: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Use of electronic health records to support smoking cessation. Dietary fibre for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. New protocols Public health interventions for increasing physical activity in children, adolescents and adults: an overview of systematic reviews*. Regulatory and road engineering interventions for preventing road traffic injuries and fatalities among vulnerable (non-motorized and motorized two wheel) road users in low- and middle-income countries*. Community-level interventions for improving access to food in low- and middle-income countries*. Education support services for improving school engagement and academic performance of children and adolescents with a chronic health condition*. Interventions for preventing unintended repeat pregnancies among adolescents. Risk scoring for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Factors that influence the provision of intrapartum and postnatal care by skilled birth attendants in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Interventions for raising breast cancer awareness in women. Intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in infants.