About the Registry of Methods and Tools

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Registry of Methods and Tools
About the Registry of Methods and Tools

The Registry of Methods and Tools is one way that the NCCMT supports public health practitioners in using evidence in their practice. Increasing access to resources and supporting practitioners in ‘sharing what works in public health’ is NCCMT core business. The methods and tools can be used alongside the EIDM learning module and the EIPH section of the website to assist practitioners in gaining knowledge and skills for using evidence in decisions as espoused in the Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada (Public Health Agency in Canada).

What are methods and tools?

A method is a process or series of steps to organize a knowledge translation activity (e.g. a framework to create a dissemination plan). A tool is an instrument to carry out the steps of a knowledge translation activity (e.g. a checklist for your dissemination plan).

What is Knowledge Translation?

At the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT), we use the definition of knowledge translation developed by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR):

Knowledge translation (KT) is defined as 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.

The Registry’s inventory of methods and tools supports the planning, doing and evaluating of public health policies and practices across four types of knowledge translation activities:

Synthesis
Synthesis brings together information in a systematic way to summarize research evidence and expert opinion on an issue. Practitioners may use a systematic review for an overview of the evidence on an issue to support decision making. Developing public health practice guidelines are an example of synthesis. The steps involved in synthesis are: identify a question; establish criteria to inform selection of studies; search research evidence; critically appraise evidence; combine the findings (statistically or thematically); summarize the findings.
Dissemination
Dissemination is the planned process of sharing knowledge, interventions or practices. This includes identifying potential audiences and tailoring the content and delivery of messages to meet the needs of the audience. Dissemination activities include briefing notes, workshops, working with the media, and listservs.
Exchange
Exchange is collaborative information sharing and problem solving between researchers, research users and decision-makers. It results in mutual learning and awareness, which inform policy, program and research decisions. A knowledge broker linking a public health unit to research organizations or a partnership between researchers and practitioners for an initiative are examples of exchange activities.
Application
Application involves putting knowledge into action in practice settings. Purposefully doing something with the information and figuring out how to use it most effectively is application. Other terms commonly used for this knowledge translation activity are adoption, uptake, utilization, implementation and mobilization. An important part of this activity is figuring out how to use the evidence appropriately or effectively within the local context. For example, developing a protocol to support a new program is an application activity.

The objectives of the Registry are to:

Filter and highlight methods and tools relevant to public health from many knowledge translation resources
Increase access to knowledge translation resources by providing brief and detailed summary statements of resources that can be easily searched and viewed
Increase understanding and use of knowledge translation methods and tools

The Registry can help public health practitioners to find resources to:

Communicate new knowledge to clients and colleagues;
Support innovation uptake in their organization;
Synthesize and appraise public health related research;
Apply a new technique for working with community partners;
Summarize relevant evidence for public health policy decisions;

More information

These summaries are written by the NCCMT to condense and to provide an overview of the resources listed in the Registry of Methods and Tools and to give suggestions for their use in a public health context. For more information on individual methods and tools included in the review, please consult the authors/developers of the original resources.