Background:

Cochrane’s vision is a world of improved health where decisions about health and health care are informed by high-quality, relevant and up-to-date synthesized research evidence. Realization of this vision relies both on production of Cochrane Reviews and on effective strategies to facilitate their use. Knowledge Translation (KT), getting the right reviews, in the right format to the right audience, is thus at the core of Cochrane’s Strategy to 2020.

Objectives:

• To share examples of a range of KT activities taking place across the Cochrane community;
• To provide an overview of the integrated approach developed for KT learning;
• To discuss ways that KT activities can be expanded or adopted at individual or Group levels.

Description:

Knowledge Translation across Cochrane is the process of ensuring our evidence reaches the people who need it the most; and ensuring high-quality, trusted information is made accessible to decision-makers in the format they need it:  the right reviews in the right format to the right audiences. Cochrane adopted a Knowledge Translation (KT) Framework in 2017, and a KT implementation plan is embedding the ambitions of this Framework across the organization. The Knowledge Translation Framework explicitly acknowledges that knowledge translation needs and activities are context specific, and that a multi-lingual approach to knowledge translation is essential for many Cochrane Groups. 

This Special Session will share examples of how knowledge translation is happening across Cochrane, and engage in discussion on how to get involved and build on this existing work. 

The Session will start with an overview of the integrated approach to KT that is being developed; allowing Cochrane Groups as well as individuals to access a greater knowledge of KT in Cochrane and hear more about work-in-progress projects and resources focused on the major KT themes and topics.

This overview presentation will be followed by three interconnected examples showing KT in action:

• Producing the right reviews: A brief description of KT work on embedding prioritization, its fit within the KT Framework, progress to date, and, a story of how this work supports Cochrane Groups, with next steps.
• In the right formats: A brief description of KT work on improving and scaling up products, its fit within the KT Framework, progress to date on Cochrane’s Community Product survey and examples of ‘best practice.’
• For the right audiences: A brief description of KT work on strategic partnerships, its fit within the KT Framework, progress to date, and a story of how this work supports Cochrane Groups, with next steps. 

There will be a panel discussion on the implementation of KT by Cochrane Groups.  

Relevance to patients and consumers:

Cochrane’s KT work strives to enable greater consumer participation in Cochrane activities and aims to result in better translation of Cochrane knowledge to those making decisions about their own health or the health of people for whom they care. There are opportunities for improved and better supported involvement from consumers, and for better consumer-tailored KT activities across all KT themes. Examples include:

• Improved mechanisms and opportunities for consumers and members of the public to collaborate in setting priorities for Cochrane Reviews;
• An increased offering of training for consumers and members of the public in how to co-produce Cochrane Reviews and in how to find, understand and use Cochrane Reviews;
• Better support for consumers’ involvement by Groups who have increased capacity and skills in working with consumers;
• A greater offering of dissemination products, including improved Plain Language Summaries and the potential for innovative graphical displays of results; and
• Better engagement with consumer agencies and organizations through formal partnerships and alliances in multiple jurisdictions.