Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta and Alberta SPOR SUPPORT UNIT Knowledge Translation Platform, 4-476 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA), 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
Alberta SPOR SUPPORT UNIT Knowledge Translation Platform, 3-62B Heritage Medical Research Centre (HMRC), 11207 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2S2, Canada.
Health Res Policy Syst. 2019 Apr 11;17(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12961-019-0437-y.
Research shows a significant gap between healthcare research and evidence-based healthcare policy and practice. Knowledge translation (KT) has an important role in addressing this gap by bolstering evidence-informed healthcare. Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is a nationally mandated and supported initiative developed to respond to the gap between research and practice. One aspect of SPOR is the provincial/territorial SUpport for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (SUPPORT) Units, intended to assist local health researchers and systems to reach the goal of improving the quality and quantity of patient-oriented research in Canada. This article presents the programme theory development and a formative evaluation of the KT Platform in Alberta's SPOR SUPPORT Unit.
We used a mixed-methods approach to develop the KT Platform's programme theory and subsequently conducted the formative evaluation. An extensive needs assessment, comprised of 59 qualitative interviews with researchers and health systems employees in Canada with an interest in KT, served as the basis for our programme theory design. Three years after launching the KT Platform, we hired an evaluation consultant to conduct a formative evaluation of the Platform's programme theory and operations. The evaluation was performed by conducting nine interviews with KT Platform service users (n = 6) and KT experts acting in advisory capacities to the KT Platform (n = 3).
The KT Platform developed a '4C Model' as a summary of the Platform's programme theory. This model is designed to meet local needs for capacity-building, a community of practice, consultation services, and contributions to KT science. This suite of services was found to help the local health system implement health evidence with measurable positive health outcomes. However, the community remains hesitant about their capacity as individuals to design and perform important KT activities independently.
With the mandate and support provided by SPOR, the KT Platform was able to design a strong programme theory based on evidence from an extensive needs assessment of the local community. The resulting 4C Model has provided a framework for KT work to assist in improving local health outcomes and can be considered by others designing KT programmes as a useful model to follow. Ongoing monitoring and assessment are required to continue to identify and respond to local needs.
研究表明，医疗保健研究与循证医疗保健政策和实践之间存在显著差距。知识转化（KT）通过增强循证医疗保健在解决这一差距方面发挥着重要作用。加拿大以患者为中心的研究战略（SPOR）是一项全国性的强制性和支持性举措，旨在应对研究与实践之间的差距。SPOR 的一个方面是省级/地区支持患者为中心的研究和试验（SUPPORT）单位，旨在帮助当地卫生研究人员和系统实现提高加拿大以患者为中心的研究质量和数量的目标。本文介绍了阿尔伯塔省 SPOR SUPPORT 单位 KT 平台的方案理论开发和形成性评估。
我们采用混合方法来开发 KT 平台的方案理论，随后进行了形成性评估。广泛的需求评估由 59 次与对 KT 感兴趣的加拿大研究人员和卫生系统员工进行的定性访谈组成，为我们的方案理论设计提供了依据。在推出 KT 平台三年后，我们聘请了一位评估顾问对平台的方案理论和运营进行形成性评估。评估是通过对 KT 平台服务用户（n=6）和以顾问身份为 KT 平台提供服务的 KT 专家（n=3）进行九次访谈进行的。
KT 平台开发了一个“4C 模型”，作为平台方案理论的总结。该模型旨在满足当地在能力建设、实践社区、咨询服务和对 KT 科学的贡献方面的需求。事实证明，这一系列服务有助于当地卫生系统实施可衡量的积极健康结果的卫生证据。然而，社区仍然对他们作为个人独立设计和执行重要 KT 活动的能力持怀疑态度。
在 SPOR 的授权和支持下，KT 平台能够根据对当地社区的广泛需求评估的证据，设计一个强有力的方案理论。由此产生的 4C 模型为 KT 工作提供了一个框架，以帮助改善当地的健康结果，并可供其他设计 KT 计划的人作为有用的模型来遵循。需要进行持续监测和评估，以继续确定和应对当地的需求。
