Nationwide Environmental Scan of Knowledge Brokers Training

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge brokers (KBs) can promote the uptake of best practice guidelines in rehabilitation. Although many institutions offer training opportunities to health care professionals who wish to undertake KBs roles, the characteristics and content of those educational training opportunities (ETOs) are currently unknown. This study aimed to describe the ETOs available to rehabilitation professionals in Canada and determine whether the ETOs meet the competencies expected of the KBs roles. Methods: We conducted a Canada-wide environmental scan to identify ETOs using three strategies: online search, phone calls, and snowball. To be included in the study, ETOs had to be offered to rehabilitation professionals in Canada and be targeting KBs competencies and/or roles. We mapped each of the content to the KBs competencies (knowledge and skills) within the five roles of KBs: information manager, linking agent, capacity builder, facilitator, and evaluator. Results: A total of 51 ETOs offered in three Canadian provinces, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, were included in the analysis. For KBs competencies, 76% of ETOs equipped attendees with research skills, 55% with knowledge brokering skills, and 53% with knowledge on implementation science. For KBs roles, over 60% of ETOs supported attendees to in performing the capacity builder role and 39% the evaluator role. Discussion: Findings suggest that ETOs focused primarily on preparing participants with the research and knowledge brokering skills required to perform the capacity builder and evaluator roles. Comprehensive educational training covering all KBs roles and competencies are needed.

Roles and effectiveness of knowledge brokers for translating clinical practice guidelines in health-related settings: a systematic review

“…Capacity building as conducted by a KB makes the role distinctly different from most local opinion leaders17 or champions18 where the capacity building activities may not occur or may be conducted by another member of the research or implementation team. The importance of the capacity builder role was highlighted in a recent Canada-wide environmental scan of KB training which found that training primarily focuses on preparing people to perform the capacity builder role 38. KBs also acted as knowledge managers in 15 of the 16 included studies, using their understanding of the local context to improve processes and practices to facilitate guideline implementation in a similar fashion to stewardship programmes.…”

Barriers and Facilitators to Knowledge Brokering Activities: Perspectives from Knowledge Brokers Working in Canadian Rehabilitation Settings

“…48,89,94,95 This suggests that KBs success does not only lie in what they do but also in who they are. 96 Despite the availability of a wide range of training programs across Canadian provinces, 97 our findings suggest a lack of awareness of existing KBs-related training opportunities. Consequently, most KBs depended on self-directed learning and on-the-job learning.…”

Public health communication professional development opportunities and alignment with core competencies: an environmental scan and content analysis

“…Our search methods were guided by previous research on competencies for public health and continuing education. 16 , 17 Following the steps outlined by Bengtsson 18 and Krippendorff, 19 we analysed the content of all the professional development opportunities identified in the scan to determine their nature and the degree to which they support the development of public health communication competency.…”