Cochrane Knowledge Translation Strategy

Executive Summary 

• Knowledge translation (KT) is essential in achieving Cochrane’s vision and maximises the benefit of the work of our contributors. This strategy puts KT at the heart of our organization. 

• The Cochrane Knowledge Translation Strategy (KT Strategy) is a critical piece of work that elaborates on Strategy to 2020’s fundamental commitment to the dissemination, use and impact of Cochrane evidence. The KT Strategy Working Group recognises that a step change is needed to put KT at the heart of everything we do. 

• This KT Strategy sets out a framework for KT in Cochrane, demonstrating the breadth and depth of the activities that would enable us to become a KT-centred organization. Parts of the organization already undertake excellent KT, but these activities are not systematic and coordinated across the organization. The KT Strategy will help us define the scope of Cochrane’s KT efforts, guide work and investment, and, importantly, focuses us on the role that each type of Group1 can play in Cochrane in KT. 

• This KT Strategy highlights key areas of focus for Cochrane’s KT work and the major audiences we should be serving. Those audiences are: consumers and the public; practitioners; policy-makers and healthcare managers; researchers and research funders. 

• The aim of the KT Strategy is to provide clarity around Cochrane’s role in KT and what activities should be considered as priorities, both at Group and organization level. Recognising the importance of context in effective KT, this Strategy envisions KT as being embedded in and integrated throughout the organization, with a distributed leadership model, and with everyone having a role. As a result, the Strategy takes a high-level, portfolio view of KT activities in Cochrane. We have attempted to define the key areas where Cochrane should focus its efforts, but we understand that priorities will be different depending on the needs, skills, expertise, resources and stakeholder expectations of individual Groups. The Strategy therefore aims for a layered portfolio approach, articulating both organizational-level activities to undertake centrally, as well as providing a framework to guide, co-ordinate and grow capacity for devolved activities and initiatives at Group and member level.

• The Cochrane KT Strategy describes six key themes as a framework for organising our thinking and activity around KT. These themes map broadly to the goals and objectives of the Strategy to 2020. The six themes are: o Theme One. Prioritization and co-production of Cochrane reviews: Producing reviews which meet the needs of our users o Theme Two. Packaging, push and support to implementation: Ensuring our users receive and can act on our reviews and products o Theme Three. Facilitating pull: Growing our users’ capacity to find and use our reviews o Theme Four. Exchange: Engaging with our users to support their evidence informed decision making o Theme Five. Improving climate: Advocating for evidence informed health decision-making o Theme Six. Sustainable KT Processes: Building a sustainable infrastructure for knowledge translation

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