Getting evidence into practice-understanding knowledge translation to achieve practice change.

In 2008, Fineout-Overholt, Stillwell, and Kent commented that educating clinicians and students about evidence-based practice (EBP) can be challenging because, for many, a cognitive paradigm shift is required. Problem solving is commonplace in practice and for the past decade efforts have been made to encourage clinicians to question practice and to base their decisions on a sound evidence base, rather than following traditional practices and relying on rituals. Unfortunately, as Lang et al. (2007) point out, the gap between best evidence and evidence-based practice remains, and patients are still not benefitting from the advances that have been made in the health-related sciences. This column explores the process of transferring knowledge gained from research into effective and sustained changes to clinical practice, policy, or education and highlights why nurse educators have a key role in helping to close the evidence-practice gap. Research utilization (RU), knowledge utilization (KU), research transfer, knowledge transfer, implementation science, knowledge translation (KT), are all terms that have been used to describe the process, or science, behind the transfer of research-based knowledge into a form that can be used to provide effective health services. A useful Web site containing definitions of these terms is the KT Clearinghouse (http://ktclearinghouse.ca/glossary, accessed 26 May 2009). Recently, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research provided a definition that sees KT as a “dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve the health of [Canadians], provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system” (Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2008). These terms are often used interchangeably, which is confusing at times. KT is the term that is currently favored by many implementation scientists and is widely