Bridging an allied health ‘know-do’ gap on delivering community-based group health programs with technology – an integrated knowledge translation approach.

Abstract

Background: The risk of COVID-19 transmission from face-to-face activities means alternative ways to deliver community-based group health programs (‘group programs’) are needed. Allied health practitioners at two regional health services (knowledge-partners) and local researchers adopted an Integrated Knowledge Translation (iKT) approach to review the evidence on delivering group programs with technology. This study captured knowledge-partner and researcher experiences of iKT.

Method: A survey designed to explore the components of iKT was distributed to all knowledge-partners who participated in at least one iKT activity (n=25). Semi-structured interview invitations were extended to the same knowledge-partners and participating researchers (n=5). These interviews explored in depth the partnering process and perceived impact of iKT. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.

Findings: Six surveys and ten interviews were completed. Knowledge-partners and researchers viewed the iKT experience positively, with a strong shared urgency and purpose in answering a time-sensitive, practice relevant question. The language used by both knowledge-partners and researchers suggested that iKT was challenging to implement, due to knowledge-partner clinical workload and urgency of the research question. This resulted in a more consultative than integrated process, with greater perceived involvement by knowledge-partners in the earlier stages of iKT (shaping the research question, data collection) compared to later stages (interpreting the study findings/crafting messaging).

Conclusion: Achieving fully integrated knowledge translation was challenging given the time-sensitive nature of the allied health evidence-practice gap, however the process was highly valued and beneficial for both knowledge-partners and researchers.