What Is a Knowledge Translation Practitioner?

A Knowledge Translation (KT) practitioner is a trained professional who bridges the gap between what science knows and what care actually delivers. Their mission? To ensure that new research doesn’t just sit in journals, but is applied meaningfully in policy, clinical care, and organizational decision-making.

KT practitioners:

Assess organizational readiness for change
Select and adapt evidence-based interventions
Coach teams through implementation, monitoring, and sustainability

Why It Matters From a Patient’s Perspective

When best practices stay trapped in publications, patients suffer. Whether it’s a child recovering from brain injury or an older adult regaining mobility after surgery, patients deserve the most effective care possible now, not 17 years from now.

KT practitioners accelerate access to the right care by helping organizations:

Identify what works based on the latest evidence

Adapt it to the local setting (rural clinic? large hospital?)

Train staff and leaders to deliver it

Sustain those changes over time

The result: Better care, sooner for you, your family, and everyone in your community.

Why It Matters From an Organization’s Perspective

Healthcare leaders often assume that publishing guidelines or holding a training session is enough. But evidence consistently shows that only 15% of implementation efforts succeed and the biggest barriers aren’t knowledge, but execution.

Clinicians face real challenges:

They don’t always know which evidence is current or trustworthy

They may not have time or training to evaluate it

Even if they do, they may not know how to apply it in practice

Organizational systems may not support change

KT practitioners provide the missing link. They bring the tools, training, and strategies to move from information overload to evidence in action.

They help organizations:

Align leadership, frontline staff, and patients
Plan for real-world application of new interventions
Identify and overcome barriers (e.g., lack of time, unclear roles)
Evaluate impact and adapt for sustainability

What Do KT Practitioners Actually Do?

KT practitioners are implementation guides. Their work includes:

Assessing readiness for change using frameworks like the Knowledge-to-Action model or Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
Engaging stakeholders (clinicians, leaders, patients) early and meaningfully
Synthesizing and translating research into actionable plans
Adapting evidence-based interventions to local needs
Facilitating implementation efforts, often coaching teams in real time
Measuring fidelity and outcomes to inform improvement
Supporting sustainability and scaling of successful changes

Final Thoughts: Why KT Practitioners Are the Future

If you want better health outcomes, shorter delays in care innovation, and smarter use of limited resources, you need someone who knows how to make change happen.

That’s the KT practitioner.

Not a luxury, an essential.

Not extra work, the work that makes everything else matter.

Ready to Build or Hire KT Capacity in Your Organization?

Learn more about our Essential Skills for Knowledge Translation Practitioners course at the Institute for Knowledge Translation—designed for clinicians, leaders, and change agents who are ready to close the gap between research and reality.

References

Albers B, Metz A, Burke K. Implementation support practitioners - a proposal for consolidating a diverse evidence base. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20(1):368. Published 2020 May 1. doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05145-1

Bührmann L, Driessen P, Metz A, et al. Knowledge and attitudes of Implementation Support Practitioners-Findings from a systematic integrative review. PLoS One. 2022;17(5):e0267533. Published 2022 May 11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0267533

Khan S, Manalili K, Moore JE. Core competencies and functions of implementation support practitioners. The Center for Implementation. Published May 23, 2024. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://thecenterforimplementation.com/toolbox/white-paper-core-competencies-and-functions-of-implementation-support-practitioners

Mallidou AA, Atherton P, Chan L, Frisch N, Glegg S, Scarrow G. Core knowledge translation competencies: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):502. Published 2018 Jun 27. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3314-4

Morris ZS, Wooding S, Grant J. The answer is 17 years, what is the question: understanding time lags in translational research. J R Soc Med. 2011;104(12):510-520. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2011.110180