Knowledge translation is a multidirectional process

Adoption of new knowledge and technology by providers and community depends on engagement of all stakeholders through knowledge translation and education. Health and wellbeing are not only a clinical conversation but also a conversation involving public health experts and researchers, patients, families, and local and federal government while considering social determinants of health, sustainable development goals, and individualization of care.

Knowledge translation is the process of sharing knowledge in a manner that makes sense, resonates with stakeholders, and enables technology adoption by providers and community. Knowledge translation is not just about acquiring new knowledge but about understanding that this new knowledge must be integrated into the context of existing knowledge, values, attitudes, habits, behaviours, skills, and practices. Without effective integration of new information into context of old information health care will remain fragmented limiting its effectiveness and resilience.

To achieve this goal, all stakeholders must learn to communicate and understand each other’s viewpoints. This will need a level of translation between the collective knowledge owned by each group of stakeholders so that all parties can analyze the issue at hand from different angles. This will require a new approach to collaborative investigation that can be translated into a shared understanding of the problem and how it can be solved.

Effective knowledge translation is based on a partnership between healthcare institutions and community members. The main challenge is to structure the relationship with community so that the engagement between both groups can take place in mutual respect and equitableness without any form of manipulation by either side.

Companies like Indimed, with their team of multidisciplinary experts, can play a crucial role in providing all stakeholders with a common language so that everybody speaks the same language and collaborate for improving healthcare at a public and an individual level. The approach of engaging all stakeholders to achieve knowledge translation should not be considered a commercial activity but a public benefit for health.

With the focus on effectiveness of knowledge translation as a goal, and with all stakeholders working for this goal, we will be able to provide better health care in every corner of the world where Indimed can work.