Effectiveness of knowledge translation of social interventions across economic boundaries: a systematic review

Abstract

There is increasing evidence to suggest that the application of knowledge in lowand middle-income countries (LMIC) is failing, that a gap exists between what is known from research and what is done to apply it. Despite widespread agreement that the application of evidence is needed, there are few published studies of how to effectively translate knowledge of social interventions, particularly those aimed at improving outcomes for mental health populations. To address this gap we assessed knowledge translation of social interventions for adults with mental health problems across economic boundaries using a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature. This review aimed to identify the extent of translational research available and to explore the effectiveness of different strategies and interventions. Studies were included if they translated knowledge between richer and poorer countries and reported a social component (as opposed to purely health) which aimed to improve social outcomes for adults with mental health problems. Our findings provide evidence for the successful translation of locally adapted social interventions to LMIC, though the specific knowledge translation mechanisms varied greatly. With only 23 studies meeting inclusion criteria for this review, further investigation is needed to ascertain the conditions surrounding knowledge translation of social interventions globally.

Cultural adaptation framework of social interventions in mental health: Evidence-based case studies from low- and middle-income countries

“…There is a limited evidence base for the effective translation of complex social interventions for people with mental health conditions in LMIC (Newlin & Webber, 2015). Culture-based models, while more holistic, are also not without their critics due to their potential limited applicability or absence of empirical evidence of their effectiveness.…”

“…There is a limited evidence base for the effective translation of complex social interventions for people with mental health conditions in LMIC (Newlin & Webber, 2015).…”

“…In addressing the mental health treatment gap, there is a fear that biomedical interventions are prioritised over local traditions of healing and recovery, medicalising social suffering and promoting a psychiatric framework dominated by pharmacological interventions (Summerfield, 2012). One of the primary challenges of implementing effective strategies to minimise this gap is developing interventions which incorporate the nature of the social, economic and cultural environment (Newlin & Webber, 2015). Illness narratives are often closely linked to social adversity or trauma and hold a specific meaning within the local cultural context (Jacob & Patel, 2014).…”

Knowledge Translation for Improving the Care of Deinstitutionalized People With Severe Mental Illness in Health Policy

“…Overall, there are different complexities and barriers that impede the application of KT for public health action in LMICs: deficits in knowledge production, the application of the available knowledge, and the use of strategies that are based on the best available evidence (Malla et al, 2018). When resources are scarce and there are strong sociocultural interferences, the translation and dissemination of knowledge can be adversely affected by contextual and local limiting factors (Newlin and Webber, 2015).…”