Paper
Saturday, July 14, 2007
A Users' Guide to Knowledge Translation Theories/Frameworks
Jo F. Logan, RN, PhD1, Ian D. Graham, PhD2, Jacqueline M. Tetroe, MA2, and Nicole J.T. Robinson, BA(Hon)3. (1) Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, (2) Knowledge Translation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada, (3) Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| Learning Objective #1: discover the common components of planned action theories. |
| Learning Objective #2: use theory to guide their future implementation endeavours. |
Purpose and Background
There is an interesting contradiction in implementation research. While many implementation trials are uninformed by theory, at the same time, there would appear to be an alarming number of theories extant in the peer reviewed literature. We were interested in identifying relevant theories and “unpacking” their concepts so as to be able to find the commonalities between them as well as to identify the full range of components thought to be important for successful implementation.
The purpose of the research was to conduct a focused search for conceptual models, frameworks, and grand theories of knowledge transfer (planned change); to undertake a theory analysis to determine: their strengths and limitations; similarities and differences between them; the extent to which each theory has been used and/or tested and the contexts and populations in which it has been used and/or tested; and to produce a users-guide to the theories.
Methods
We conducted a focused literature search, developed inclusion criteria to identify planned action theories and then extracted data from each theory to determine the origins; examine the meaning; judge the logical consistency; define the degree of generalizability and parsimony and testability. We conducted an analysis of the concepts found in each theory and used that to develop a set of action categories that form the phases of planned action.
Results
We identified 31 planned action theories that formed the basis of our analyses. The phases of planned action from each theory were synthesized into 10 distinct, but related categories.
We created an Access Database containing an inventory of planned change models, frameworks/grand theories and a KT Theories User’s Guide which synthesizes all the planned change models/theories; identifies common elements of each and provides information on their use.