Exploring the use of Canadian and international knowledge translation (KT) initiatives

First we completed a comprehensive review of published and grey literature to identify KT-focused initiatives used by Canadian and international funding organizations. For the published literature review we searched MEDLINE database to identify English-language studies of any design published February 2015-January 2020. Included articles were limited to KT initiatives within funding organizations from 10 high-income countries. The grey literature search included document and webpage reviews of 21 purposefully selected health research funders in high-income countries. To supplement the literature review we held a focus group and key informant interviews with Canadian and international funders to explore KT initiatives and evaluation of these initiatives, as well as KT priorities, future directions, and aspirations. We synthesized findings from the literature review, focus group, and interviews to develop a number of suggestions for consideration by health research funders to support KT integration and strategic planning.  

212 unique data sources were included (n=39 published, n=173 grey literature) describing KT initiatives by Canadian and international research funders. Nine individuals representing 8 organizations participated in the focus group. Eight individuals representing 7 organizations participated in interviews. We found that funders are carrying out several KT initiatives. These tend to engage stakeholders to set research priorities, collaborate and co-create with a range of stakeholders, particularly patients and the public, build researcher and stakeholder capacity in KT, and mandate KT requirements. Focus group and interview participants hoped to see increased resources and mechanisms for KT, exchange opportunities with end-users, particularly policy-makers, and enhanced evaluation of KT initiatives. Informed by the findings of this project, we provided a number of suggestions for consideration by health research funders to support KT, relating to: capacity-building, supporting policy/decision-makers, co-creation, KT activities, and KT evaluation.