Building Scientist Capacity in Knowledge Translation: Development of the Knowledge Translation Planning Template

Effective knowledge translation is viewed as essential for closing the research-to-practice gap in health research and clinical care (Balas & Boren, 2002; Morris et al., 2011) and ensuring a more efficient and effective use of research innovations in practice and policy. Knowledge translation is a global consideration (Tetroe et al., 2008). Health research funders in Canada, as elsewhere, have incorporated knowledge translation into their mission, strategic directions, and funding opportunities, thereby encouraging knowledge translation and implementation science and requiring knowledge translation practice from researchers working across the health research pillars – basic, clinical, health services, and population health (Ellis, 2014; Tetroe et al., 2008). Healthcare and research organizations have changed their landscapes as well, hiring knowledge translation practitioners to fulfill this responsibility (Barwick, Bovaird, & McMillen, manuscript in preparation). The growing attention to knowledge translation in research and practice has created a need for both researchers and practitioners to develop new skills and competencies in knowledge translation practice, related to their research, academic, or to organizational activities. It is in this context that the Knowledge Translation Planning Template was developed to support knowledge translation planning. There is increasing expectation globally that researchers will be able to demonstrate the "real world" impact of their research, requiring them to think strategically about their work and how it can be applied in practice (e.g., Collie et al., 2016). The first step in achieving this aim is to consciously plan their knowledge translation activities. Few studies have explored the knowledge translation activities of researchers (e.g., Barwick et al., in preparation; Nedjat et al., 2014; Newton et al., 2007; Wilson et al., 2010), and we know of no other tools focused on supporting this important activity other than several that have been based on the Knowledge Translation The last fifteen years have seen a fundamental shift in the importance of knowledge translation in health research and clinical care. Health research funders have incorporated knowledge translation into their missions, strategic directions, and funding opportunities, encouraging knowledge translation and implementation science and requiring knowledge translation practice from researchers working across the health research pillars – basic, clinical, health services, and population health. Healthcare and research organizations have changed their landscape as well, hiring knowledge translation practitioners to bridge research and practice for a range of knowledge users. Universities are shifting criteria for academic promotion to incorporate knowledge translation. Growing attention to knowledge translation in research, practice, and scholarship has created a need for researchers and practitioners to develop knowledge translation skills and competencies related to their research, scholarship, and organizational activities. The Knowledge Translation Planning Template was developed to support knowledge translation planning for scientists in health and other sectors. This article provides an overview of the rationale for its development, introduces the tool components, and describes preliminary indicators of impact. A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.