Knowledge Translation in Context: Indigenous, Policy and Community Settings

Abstract

How can we systematically ensure that people apply evidence in practice?Within various fields, including the social sciences and health sciences, there is frustration that research findings are not translated into practical applications at the individual, population, or community levels.Banister, Leadbeater, and Marshall have compiled a text that attempts to overcome the ''knowÁdo'' gap by outlining the barriers and facilitators of knowledge translation (KT) in the academic, policy, and indigenous community contexts.They emphasize a paradigm shift among academicsÁpractitioners so that research knowledge is not valued over the community's experience or contextual knowledge.The 12 chapters in Knowledge Translation in Context focus on how knowledge translation is context dependent and context sensitive.The introductory chapter by Leadbeater, Banister, and Marshall lays the groundwork by adopting the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) definition of knowledge translation but expanding it to refer to all populations.They highlight the social disparities that exist within communities and the power imbalances and communication gaps that exist between researchers and consumers of research knowledge.Part I of the text focuses on partnerships between communities and academics.Part II focuses on the challenges of translating research findings into public policy.Part III focuses on how knowledge translation with indigenous communities could be improved by acknowledging cultural realities and employing integrated knowledge translation methodologies.Collectively, these parts of the text offer practical examples of barriers and facilitators of knowledge translation practices in academicÁcommunity settings, policy development, and indigenous contexts.