Definitions and Frameworks

DISSEMINATION

1. Dissemination

   Methods/tools that involve/facilitate one-way transmission of messages, the transfer or spread of information from one party to other parties, or the distribution of information from sender to recipients; "Dissemination involves identifying the appropriate audience, and tailoring the message and medium to the audience. Dissemination activities can include such things as summary/briefings to stakeholders, educational sessions with patients, practitioners and/or policy makers, engaging knowledge users in developing and executing dissemination/implementation plan, tools creation, and media engagement."

   Source: CIHR

2. Dissemination

   An active and strategically planned process whereby new or existing knowledge, interventions or practices are spread

   Source: Keifer, L., Frank, J., Di Ruggiero, E., Dobbins, M., Manuel, D., Gully, P.R., Mowat, D. [2005]. Fostering Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Canada: Examining the Need for a Canadian Population and Public Health Evidence Centre & Research Network. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 96(3):I-1-I-20.

3. Dissemination

   An active and strategically planned process whereby new or existing knowledge, interventions are spread.

   Source: Best, A., Hiatt, R. A., & Norman, C. (2006). The language and logic of research transfer: Finding common ground. Working Group on Translational Research and Knowledge Integration, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Toronto, Canada.

EVIDENCE

1. Evidence

   Anything that establishes a fact or gives reason for believing something

   Source: Oxford dictionary

2. Evidence

   Findings from research and other knowledge that may serve as a useful basis for decision-making in public health and health care.

   Source: World Health Organization, Health Evidence Network (2004). Evidence on health needs and intervention. Copenhagen: Regional Office for Europe, World Health Organization.

3. Evidence

   Information or facts that are systematically obtained, i.e. obtained in a manner that is replicable, observable, credible, verifiable, or basically supportable.

   Source: Rycroft-Malone, J., & Stetler, C.B. (2004). Commentary on Evidence, Research, Knowledge: A Call for Conceptual Clarity: Shannon Scott-Findlay & Carolee Pollock. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing; 1(2):98-101.

4. Evidence

   Information that comes closest to the facts of a matter. The form it takes depends on context. The findings of high-quality, methodologically appropriate research are the most accurate evidence. Because research is often incomplete and sometimes contradictory or unavailable, other kinds of information are necessary supplements to or stand-ins for research. The evidence base for a decision is the multiple forms of evidence combined to balance rigour with expedience—while privileging the former over the latter.

   Source: http://www.chsrf.ca/keys/glossary

5. Evidence

   Has three categories of evidence:

   1. medical effectiveness research evidence (context free)
   2. social science oriented research evidence (context sensitive)
   3. expertise, views, stakeholder realities (colloquial evidence)

   These are not incompatible and all have a role in guiding decision-making and are to be included in deliberative processes.
   
   

   Different Categories or Dimensions of Evidence

   Defined by method of collection:

   • observational, experimental, extrapolated, experiential
   • experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, administrative, economic, ethical/philosophical, systematic review
   • legal, epidemiologic
   • quantitative, qualitative
   • clinical epidemiology, decision science

   Defined by general purpose:

   • problem identification/description, effectiveness, implementation
   • culture, leadership, measurement
   • philosophic-normative, practical-operational

   Defined by source:

   • research, organizational capacity, political acceptability
   • research, clinical experience, patient experience, local context
   • scientific, theoretic, practical, expert, judicial, ethical

   Source: Lomas, J., Culyer, T., McCutcheon, C., McAuley, L, & Law, S. (2005). Conceptualizing and Combining Evidence for Health System Guidance. CHSRF

Evidence-based Decision-making

The conscientious, explicit astute use of the best-available evidence from relevant research fields to inform practice and policy decisions regarding health care, health systems, and population and public health programs. The evidence on which decisions are made should be systematically collected, reviewed for quality and relevance, and synthesized

EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE

1. Evidence-informed practice

   The use of high quality locally applicable evidence to inform public policy making decisions, with the goal of improving health and reducing health inequalities. Three questions need to be addressed in using evidence to inform practice:

   1. What are the best solutions to the most burdensome health problems?
   2. What are the best ways to fit these solutions into complex and often overstretched and under-resourced health systems?
   3. What are the best ways to bring about the desired changes in health systems?

   Source: Lavis, J. N., Posada, F. B., Haines, A., and Osei, E., Use of research to inform public policymaking, Lancet, 364(9445), 2004, p.1615 - 1621

2. Evidence-informed practice

   Is the process of distilling and disseminating the published evidence base on effective practice and collating it together with evidence from actual practice. EIP provides evidence based advice and briefings to inform the development of health improvement policies and programs. EIP involves the sifting, collation, analysis and sharing of existing evidence base, practice and experience and to identify implications for future practice and come forward with relevant strategies and plans. Simply put, it's the use of evidence to inform policy and practice.

   Source: Evidence Informed Policy and Practice: A review of approaches used in health improvement in Scotland. Published by NHS Health Scotland, 2006

Method/Tool

A standardized procedure or product that facilitates access to and/or use of information for decision making. This could be a regular and systematic approach or a set of organized steps or rules for accomplishing knowledge synthesis, knowledge dissemination and/or knowledge exchange or it could be an instrument, guideline or manual that is used to inform and/or conduct knowledge synthesis, dissemination and/or exchange.

Knowledge Exchange

1. Knowledge Exchange

   Is is collaborative problem-solving between researchers and decision makers that happens through linkage and exchange. Effective knowledge exchange involves interaction between decision makers and researchers and results in mutual learning through the process of planning, producing, disseminating, and applying existing or new research in decision-making.

   Source: Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (accessed October 15, 2007)

2. Knowledge Exchange

   The interactive and iterative process of imparting meaningful knowledge between research users and producers, such that research users receive information that they perceive as relevant to them and in easily usable formats, and producers receive information about the research needs of users.

   Source: Best, A., Hiatt, R. A., & Norman, C. (2006). The language and logic of research transfer: Finding common ground. Working Group on Translational Research and Knowledge Integration, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Toronto, Canada.

3. Knowledge Exchange

   The interactive and iterative process of imparting meaningful knowledge between researcher users and producers, such that research users receive information that they perceive as relevant to them and in easily usable formats, and producers receive information about the research needs of the users.

   Source: Keifer, L., Frank, J., Di Ruggiero, E., Dobbins, M., Manuel, D., Gully, P.R., Mowat, D. [2005]. Fostering Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Canada: Examining the Need for a Canadian Population and Public Health Evidence Centre & Research Network. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 96(3):I-1-I-20.

Knowledge Integration

The effective incorporation of knowledge into the decisions, practices and policies of systems and organizations so that it informs and affects outcomes.

Knowledge Management

The creation and subsequent management of an environment which encourages knowledge to be created, shared, learned, enhanced and organized.

Knowledge Synthesis

An evaluation or analysis of research evidence and expert opinion on a specific topic to aid in decision-making or help decision makers in the development of policies. It can help place the results of a single study in context by providing the overall body of research evidence.

Knowledge Transfer

Imparting of research knowledge from producers to potential users.

Knowledge Translation

1. Knowledge Translation

   A dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve the health of Canadians, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system.

   Source: CIHR

2. Knowledge Translation

   A systematic approach to capture, collect and share tacit knowledge in order for it to become explicit knowledge. By doing so, this process allows for individuals and/or organizations to access and utilize essential information, which previously was known intrinsically to only one or a small group of people.

   Source: Government of Alberta, http://www.pao.gov.ab.ca/learning/knowledge/transfer-guide/index.html, unable to access web-site, cited in Graham et al., 2006, Lost in Knowledge Translation: Time for a Map? The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26(1), 13-24)

Knowledge Uptake

The acquisition and review of research knowledge and its utilization including incorporation into decision-making.