Knowledge to Action to Impact

By Robin Low

Creation / Acquisition of Knowledge

Knowledge Inquiry

Synthesis

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Creation / Acquisition of Knowledge

• Knowledge gathering is represented by a funnel surrounded by a the action cycle.

Knowledge Inquiry

Synthesis

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Identify Problem

Adapt knowledgeto local context

Implement Interventions

Understand Barriersto knowledge use

Evaluate outcome

Iterate Solution

Action Cycle

• The Action Cycle outlines a process, representing the activities needed for knowledge to be applied in practice; knowledge is adapted to the local context, and barriers and facilitators to its use are explicitly assessed. Involvement of stakeholders, and tailoring knowledge to the needs of people who are going to use it, is crucial.

Knowledge Inquiry

Synthesis

Products/ Tools

Tailo

ring K

nowled

ge

Identify Problem

Adapt knowledgeto local context

Implement Interventions

Understand Barriersto knowledge use

Evaluate outcome

Iterate Solution

Evaluate Impact

Empower Locals

Engage Local Stakeholders

Enable Locals

Connect Locals with External Resource

Impact and Sustainablity

• To create sustainability, there needs to be local engagement from the start.

• The people should not be seen as the problem, but instead as the solution.

• They locals hold the knowledge and they may have untapped capacity, and they need to be engaged, participate and collaborate on the solution.

How to Turn Ideas to Reality

Why do ideas remain as ideas?• Lack of planning • Lack of knowledge • Lack of action

Lack of planning

• This is a commonly used excuse. • As an entrepreneur or employee, there are

many things which may be high priority. • Getting to social impact, trying out new

technology, finding new markets, may all sound important by running of main business is the most important.

How do we plan better?

1. Block out time– You plan meetings and schedules all the time, set

some time aside to develop your ideas.– A good time would be Monday morning, where

you have a fresh start for the week.– Friday afternoons are usually bad as you have

social activities as well as deadlines which may over run and push schedules back.

How do we plan better?

2. Use Tools for planning.– There are so many tools which can help you in

planning, meeting and collaboration. – Time Tracking Software– Workflow Mgmt Software– Time & Expense Software– Web Conferencing Software– Its easy to plan, collaborate and execute with

free tools online.

How do we plan better?

3. Have a goal in Mind.– Create milestones and small tasks to complete

within a short time frame.– Map progress, visualizing progress is a great

motivator– Review progress and adjust schedule to fit

timeline.

Knowledge acquisition

Knowledge Inquiry

Synthesis

Products/ Tools

Tailo

ring K

nowled

ge

Identify Problem

Adapt knowledgeto local context

Implement Interventions

Understand Barriersto knowledge use

Evaluate outcome

Iterate Solution

Evaluate Impact

Empower Locals

Engage Local Stakeholders

Enable Locals

Connect Locals with External Resource

Knowledge

• Some knowledge are harder to acquire. If you want to create an app, but you don’t know coding.

• There are a lot of online courses available to get you to level 1.

• Otherwise there is always the question, are you the best man for the job, or do you want to outsource?

Knowledge

• A potential problem is not knowing what you don’t know.• It is very hard to start as a

beginner if you don’t know how to ask for help.

• If you are totally new, you can always volunteer, intern or work for the industry you want to be in.

Knowledge

• Focusing too much knowledge is also a bad thing. More knowledge can actually hurt as you may over rationalize and cannot decide.

• Information paralysis– The Internet is changing how we access information,

and there is too much bad opinions out there that can obscure real information.

• You need to develop the skill of "mindfulness." – the act of being present and focusing your awareness, objectively and without judgement.

Mindfulness

• Examine your trigger. • Use mindfulness to determine your feelings

leading up to the event.• Realize that you are not your emotions. • Determine the root cause behind your

emotions. • Distract yourself with something else and

focus on how great future you will feel.

Lack of Action

• With enough planning and knowledge, no action may still be taken.

• Why?– Self sabotage?– Lack of confidence?– Lack of perceived resources?

Accountability

• How to find motivation?– Sometimes doing it for “yourself” is not a good

reason for you to act.– You have to “do it for someone else” and take

accountability.– Sometimes we need a “Gym Buddy” to be there,

spurring you into action.

Knowledge is power

• Knowledge is aplenty; it only becomes power when you take action

K2A in action

Identifying strategies to improve diabetes care in Alberta, Canada, using the knowledge-to-action cycleThrough collaboration between health researchers and the strategic clinical network, and using principles of the knowledge-to-action cycle, we identified barriers to and facilitators of diabetes care using data from a patient survey and a provider focus group

Identifying the Gaps

What is a “gap”?• Measuring the “gap” between evidence and

actual practice or policy-making is one of the first steps in knowledge translation.

• By evidence, we mean the best available research-based evidence.

Which gaps to target?

• Given constraints in resources, it isn’t possible to target every gap from evidence to practice.

• Strategies include consideration of the burden, quality of life and cost.

• These discussions should be transparent and involve relevant stakeholders, including patients or the public, NGOs, etc.

How can we measure the gap?

• Needs assessment is a process for determining the size and nature of the gap between current and more desirable knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours and outcomes.

• The strategy used for assessment depends on the purpose of the assessment, the type of data and the resources available.

The Gap Assessment

• Can happen at the population level. Information and database may already be available from various organizations.

• Can also happen at the organization level. Most organizations are required by accreditation to collect information on gaps.

• Can also happen at the project / care provide level through direct observation.

Why do gaps exist?

• Gaps from evidence to action usually reflect systems-related issue.

• Human beings have problems paying attention to nonroutine tasks.

• Humans do not concentrate on repetitive tasks once they are mastered.

• If we do not evaluate the impact of these tasks, then gaps between evidence and practice can occur.

What are the gaps in gap identification?

• Identifying the gaps from knowledge to practice is the starting point of implementing knowledge. Analyses of gaps should involve use of rigorous methods and engage relevant stakeholders.

• Strategies for completing needs assessments depend on the purpose of the assessment, the type of data and the resources that are available.

• Needs can be assessed from the perspective of a population, an organization.

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