Lecture 9 Knowledge translation

Question 1

What is evidence-informed policy-making?

Answer 1

an approach that helps people make well-informed decisions about policies, programs and projects by putting the best available evidence at the heart of policy development and implementation

Question 2

What is policy and what are the three policy levels?

Answer 2

It is a broad statement of goals, objectives and means that create a framework for activity. It often takes the form of explicit written documents, but may also be implicit or unwritten.
Levels: national, regional, organisational.

Question 3

What is evidence and where does it come from?

Answer 3

Evidence concerns facts (actual or asserted) intended for use in support of a conclusion.
It comes from experience, observation and interpretation.

Question 4

What are the four sources of evidence?

Answer 4

• Evidence from research
• Evidence about frequency, causes, and modifying factors of local communities’ health issues.
• Evidence from people about community and political preferences and actions
• Evidence from various governments and programs about public health resources.

Question 5

What are the criteria for decision making about the ‘best’ policy? Name and explain them.

Answer 5

• Medical-technical effectiveness: extent to which it controls disease
• Organization feasibility: implementation of intervention (level of
  facilities, skills of health workers) - does it fit in with existing services.
• Social, cultural and ‘political’ feasibility: acceptability of intervention
  to community and (political) leader
• Financial feasibility: costs for personnel and materials, et; economic appraisal and sustainability

Question 6

What–and when–are moments of knowledge translation in the research process?

Answer 6

• Agenda setting: Research/evidence to diagnose and analyse problems, point to directions
• Formulation: Research/evidence on the problems and potential solutions
• Implementation: Research/evidence on the process of implementation
• Evaluation: Research/evidence on the process, outcome and impact

Question 7

What is Rogers’ diffusion of innovation model? And what aspects influence the speed of diffusion of the innovation?

Answer 7

A theory that tells something about the spreading of a new idea.
There is the innovators (2.5%), early adopters (13.5%), early majority (34%), late majority (34%), and laggards (16%).

Aspects influencing the diffusion of the innovation are: perceived relative advantage, observability, trialability, simplicity, compatability.

Question 8

What is knowledge translation?

Answer 8

It is about bridging the gap between the researchers’ knowledge and what the policy makers/professionals do/need. It is about translating research into practical information policy makers can put to practical use.

Question 9

What are the two ways of knowledge translation?

Answer 9

1. Generate and push: research finds a way to policy. Research is conducted in the perspectives/interests of the stakeholders. Stakeholders can be invited to contribute to design and analysis. Can be done in the form of policy briefs, memos, media, presentations, lobbying.
2. Ask and pull: Policy priorities determine research, a broad range of perspectives are required, and different stakeholders are needed. Think of commission research,

Question 10

What are products of knowledge translation?

Answer 10

• news/media
• social media
• policy briefs, issue, briefs, factsheets, video’s.
• Workshops, seminars, training courses
• one on one meetings

Question 11

Explain the engineering model. What does the model require?

Answer 11

It is a problem driven model: a problem is identified and will be solved by research. The research creates solution and the policy makes changes.

It requires:

• Authoritative statements based on systematic reviews
• ability of the statements to guide decision making in contexts.
• knowledge and acceptance of statements by the actors
• resources and time to act upon the evidence
• incentives to apply evidence.

Question 12

What is the enlightenment model?

Answer 12

Concepts and ideas from research filter into the policy process. It has a cumulative indirect effect, instead of immediate and direct.

Question 13

What is the strategic (aka symbolic) model?

Answer 13

Research evidence is used to justify an already made policy. The research process is used to delay said policy.

Question 14

What is the elective affinity model?

Answer 14

The policy makers/community act if they have participated in research, disseminated at the right time and/or their implications coincide with values and beliefs of the audience.

Question 15

What makes evidence informed policy making difficult?

Answer 15

Researcher and policy maker come from two different communities with different cultures and can thus have different beliefs, values, opinions etc.

Question 16

What are limitations of research to policy makers?

Answer 16

Policy makers needs to be more holistic and have to see complex problems in diverse contexts where research focuses on a perspective in often a single context.
Not all evidence is convincing.
A critical appraisal of evidence is not always explicit.

Question 17

What factors influence translation of the evidence?

Answer 17

Timing: window of opportunity, for the agenda.
Reputation: who sends the message
Communication: how is message continued.

Question 18

What could be done to improve knowledge translation?

Answer 18

• Understanding culture differences
• find a way to be involved in both ways of the process
• communicating evidence effectively
• educating policy makers on science
• educating researchers on policy
• conducting policy relevant research.