Knowledge translation is the term first used by Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) in year 2000, it is a dynamic and iterative process that includes the synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve health, provide more effective health services and products, and strengthen the health care system'(CIHR,2005).
According to, World Report on Knowledge for Better Health Report, there is huge difference in life expectancy between developing and developed nation. Approximately, 6 million child deaths are attributable to preventable causes; reason behind is that we are not able to implement available knowledge efficiently, which comes as a gap between knowing and doing- ‘the know-do gap’. The situation is not acceptable, in developing countries, where 90% of global disease burden lies and only about 10% of total global health research funding is available; the 10/90 gap.(Knowledge translation in developing countries).
In this study we will try to explore different views about knowledge translation & will rediscover determinants of knowledge action gap, challenges to bridge know to do gap & strategies to address these gaps with concluding remark on way forward. The search pattern followed is non-systematic and references are made to relevant studies.
Various factors determine the gap between knowledge and its implementation in field. There is lack of accountability at all level of decision making from the frontline workers to high level policy makers. None of the country is spared of this know- do gap.
This research to action gap is not confined to any one specific area of service delivery but it is a cross cutting issue. There are multiple of challenges being faced by policy and decision makers
Including the skills to skill to use the knowledge at ground reality, sufficient no. of the skilled manpower. These challenges are also evident at different level of health system like lack of funding and finances to support and sustain the action, lack of logistics, lack of skilled health work force and lack of compliance of the target population to the services they are getting. The bridging of knowledge to action gap ; the know-do gap is indispensable to improve the health outcome.
The knowledge translation is important in addressing the Know’do gap. The know to do gap has unmasked many areas related with health inequity. Many countries are lagging behind the achievement of MDGs by 2015. It is not that we do not have knowledge or research to address all these preventable causes of mortality and morbidity, instead it is the lack of using this knowledge or failure to convert this knowledge into action that is leading to all this consequences. Besides this restricted access to information, less reliability on evidence based problem solving and learning, problem with scaling up of the success of a program (KT in global health). There are many strategies and initiatives being undertaken by various organizations to tackle these shortcomings and for strengthening of health system.
The WHO has come up with a knowledge management (KM) strategy to overcome the know-do gap by improving access to world’s health information, translation of knowledge into action, sharing of knowledge, e-health and supportive environment for KM.(Knowledge Translation in Developing Countries Nancy Santesso, RD, MLIS, and Peter Tugwell, MD, MSc)
the Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) developed by Logan and Graham is a conceptual framework for selecting and tailoring strategies to promote the application of research and to assess, monitor, and evaluate knowledge translation strategies based. .7,8(Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR).
Most of the causes of premature death and disability are treatable with the available knowledge and research. It is imperative to use the strategic knowledge to bridge the know’do gap. The continuous evolution of knowledge translation strategies have equipped the policy makers to use the evidence for action.(knowledge translation in developing countries.) The WHOs Knowledge management strategy and Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) have larger implication for effective knowledge translation.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2004). Knowledge translation strategy 2004’2009: Innovation in action. Retrieved September 9, 2006, from http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/26574.html
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2005). About knowledge translation. Retrieved September 9, 2006, from http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/29418.html
(Canadian Institute of Health Research. Knowledge translation strategy, 2004’2009.Available at: http://www.cihrirsc. gc.ca/e/26574.html#introduction. Accessed Feb. 17, 2006.)
(Knowledge Translation in Developing Countries Nancy Santesso, RD, MLIS, and Peter Tugwell, MD, MSc)
(7. Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR). Available at: http://www.
ccghr.ca. Accessed Nov 11, 2005. 8. International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN). Available at: http://www.inclen. org. Accessed Nov 11, 2005.) (Knowledge Translation in Developing Countries Nancy Santesso, RD, MLIS, and Peter Tugwell, MD, MSc)
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