The Missing Link in Evidence-Based Care: The Urgent Case for Knowledge Translation Practitioners
Imagine investing months or years-and millions of dollars-into developing a breakthrough health intervention, only to watch it stall before reaching the people who need it most. This is the harsh reality for over 60% of evidence-informed programs: they fail before ever delivering services to clients. The culprit? A persistent chasm between what research tells us and what actually happens in practice. The solution: skilled Knowledge Translation (KT) practitioners.
Bridging the Gap Between Evidence and Practice
Despite vast investments in health research, there remains a significant gap between what is known (research evidence) and what is done (clinical or policy practice). This “know-do gap” can result in patients not receiving the most effective treatments and decision-makers lacking the best available information. Knowledge translation (KT) practitioners play a critical role in closing this gap by ensuring that high-quality research is actually used to inform real-world decisions, policies, and practices.
The Complex Nature of Knowledge Translation
KT is not simply about disseminating information. It is a dynamic, iterative process that involves synthesizing, evaluating, adapting, and sharing knowledge with a variety of stakeholders—including clinicians, policy-makers, and the public. This process requires navigating barriers such as organizational culture, varying levels of research literacy, and competing interests. KT practitioners are trained to manage these complexities, tailoring strategies to specific contexts and audiences.
Core Competencies of KT Practitioners
Effective KT practitioners possess a unique set of competencies that extend beyond traditional research or clinical skills. According to recent frameworks and reviews, these competencies include:
Understanding organizational and local contexts
Mastery of research processes and evidence synthesis
Skills in knowledge dissemination, including plain language communication
Ability to adapt knowledge to different settings and audiences
Proficiency in stakeholder engagement and collaboration
Familiarity with KT theories, frameworks, and models
These competencies enable KT practitioners to act as knowledge brokers, translating complex research findings into actionable insights and facilitating the exchange of knowledge between researchers and end-users.
Driving Evidence-Based Practice and Policy
Without dedicated KT practitioners, valuable research often remains underutilized, and opportunities for improving health outcomes are lost. KT practitioners support the implementation of evidence-based interventions, help sustain change, and scale up successful innovations. They also play a key role in educating and training others within organizations, fostering a culture that values ongoing learning and adaptation.
Maximizing the Impact of Research Investment
Health systems invest billions in research, but much of this investment fails to translate into improved care or policy unless there are mechanisms in place to facilitate knowledge use. KT practitioners ensure that research findings are not only shared but also understood, adapted, and applied in ways that benefit patients, providers, and society at large.
In summary:
Knowledge translation practitioners are essential for bridging the persistent gap between research and practice. Their specialized competencies, strategic approaches, and collaborative skills ensure that research investments lead to tangible improvements in health outcomes, policy, and practice. Without them, the promise of evidence-based healthcare remains largely unrealized.
Ready to Build Your Skills as a KT Practitioner?
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.
Course Faculty:
Jennifer Moore PT, DHSc, NCS, Founder of the Institute for Knowledge Translation
Wendy Romney, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS
Course Description:
This online course empowers healthcare professionals to plan and execute KT projects using evidence-based strategies, interactive coursework, and mentoring. Participants will develop a KT plan tailored to their organization, with support from experienced faculty. The program is ideal for those seeking to implement evidence-based practices and drive real change in healthcare settings.
References
Straus SE, Tetroe J, Graham I. Defining knowledge translation. CMAJ. 2009;181(3-4):165-168. doi:10.1503/cmaj.081229 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2717660/
Davis D, Evans M, Jadad A, et al. The case for knowledge translation: shortening the journey from evidence to effect. BMJ. 2003;327(7405):33-35. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7405.33
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
Kathy Eljiz, David Greenfield, Anne Hogden, Robyn Taylor, Nazlee Siddiqui, Maria Agaliotis, Marianna Milosavljevic - Improving knowledge translation for increased engagement and impact in healthcare: BMJ Open Quality 2020;9:e000983.