Engaging policy-makers, health system managers and policy analysts in the conduct of knowledge synthesis

Workshop category: 

  • Knowledge translation and communicating evidence
Date and Location

Date: 

Sunday 16 September 2018 - 11:00 to 12:30

Location: 

Harris 1
Contact persons and facilitators

Contact person:

Andrea Tricco

Facilitators:

Tricco A1, Straus S2, Curran J3
1 Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Canada
2 Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital, Canada
3 Dalhousie University, Canada

Acknowledgements:

Zarin W1, Rios P1
1 Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Canada
Target audience

Target audience: 

Researchers, end-users of research

Level of difficulty: 

Basic
Type of workshop

Type of workshop : 

Discussion
Abstract

Abstract:

Background:
To increase the relevance and facilitate the uptake of research findings, health systems and research funders encourage engagement of knowledge users in the research process (i.e. individuals likely to use the end product to inform decisions) and relevant stakeholders (i.e. those who are affected by or have an interest or stake in the topic). Additionally, health policy-makers, policy analysts and health system managers are increasingly commissioning knowledge synthesis to meet their decision-making needs. Despite this imperative to increase engagement and rely upon knowledge syntheses, opportunities for and approaches to engaging knowledge users in the knowledge synthesis process remain unexplored.

Objectives:
To present the findings from our scoping review on engaging knowledge users in the knowledge synthesis process, with an emphasis on policy-makers, heath system managers and policy analysts, and to discuss the feasibility of implementing strategies identified from the literature.

The specific learning objectives for participants are to:

1) understand opportunities for knowledge user engagement in knowledge synthesis;
2) critically examine the barriers and facilitators to engaging knowledge users in knowledge synthesis;
3) develop a knowledge user engagement plan for a knowledge synthesis service request.

Description:
The workshop will begin with a 30-minute presentation on trends identified in our scoping review on engaging knowledge users in the knowledge synthesis process. The presentation will be interactive and include three rounds of questions and comments from participants (one round of questions at each 10-minute interval). A 45-minute breakout session will take place with a two-part exercise where participants (working in groups of 5 to 8 people) will develop a knowledge user engagement plan for a hypothetical request from a policy-maker for a rapid knowledge synthesis product to support urgent decision-making needs. Participants will begin by identifying anticipated barriers and facilitators to engagement for the given scenario and then develop a detailed engagement plan to address all the barriers and facilitators discussed. Workshop facilitators will provide direction and assistance, as needed. The final 15 minutes of the workshop will include a large group discussion to reflect on the process.

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

Knowledge user (KU) engagement in research increases policy and practice relevance of research questions and enhances uptake of research findings in decision-making, thereby improving health outcomes for patients and consumers. The opportunities and strategies for KU engagement in knowledge synthesis that will be discussed during the workshop also apply to patients as KUs. In fact, a third of the literature found in our scoping review on engaging policy-makers, health system managers, and policy analysts in knowledge synthesis also engaged patients and consumers.