Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation
Many representations of the movement of healthcare knowledge through society exist, and multiple models for the translation of evidence into policy and practice have been articulated. Most are linear or cyclical and very few come close to reflecting the dense and intricate relationships, systems and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2018-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3385_85c937ce3180c119b6f1de73c7e99d7b.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819138191626600448 |
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| author | Alison Kitson Alan Brook Gill Harvey Zoe Jordan Rhianon Marshall Rebekah O’Shea David Wilson |
| author_facet | Alison Kitson Alan Brook Gill Harvey Zoe Jordan Rhianon Marshall Rebekah O’Shea David Wilson |
| author_sort | Alison Kitson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many representations of the movement of healthcare knowledge through society exist, and multiple models for the translation of evidence into policy and practice have been articulated. Most are linear or cyclical and very few come close to reflecting the dense and intricate relationships, systems and politics of organizations and the processes required to enact sustainable improvements. We illustrate how using complexity and network concepts can better inform knowledge translation (KT) and argue that changing the way we think and talk about KT could enhance the creation and movement of knowledge throughout those systems needing to develop and utilise it. From our theoretical refinement, we propose that KT is a complex network composed of five interdependent sub-networks, or clusters, of key processes (problem identification [PI], knowledge creation [KC], knowledge synthesis [KS], implementation [I], and evaluation [E]) that interact dynamically in different ways at different times across one or more sectors (community; health; government; education; research for example). We call this the KT Complexity Network, defined as a network that optimises the effective, appropriate and timely creation and movement of knowledge to those who need it in order to improve what they do. Activation within and throughout any one of these processes and systems depends upon the agents promoting the change, successfully working across and between multiple systems and clusters. The case is presented for moving to a way of thinking about KT using complexity and network concepts. This extends the thinking that is developing around integrated KT approaches. There are a number of policy and practice implications that need to be considered in light of this shift in thinking. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:02:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d53d70c1e7c4079b4cf326184164867 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:02:51Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d53d70c1e7c4079b4cf3261841648672022-12-21T18:28:26ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392018-03-017323124310.15171/IJHPM.2017.79Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge TranslationAlison Kitson0Alan Brook1Gill Harvey2Zoe Jordan3Rhianon Marshall4Rebekah O’Shea5David Wilson6Adelaide Nursing School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Dental School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Nursing School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Nursing School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Nursing School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaMany representations of the movement of healthcare knowledge through society exist, and multiple models for the translation of evidence into policy and practice have been articulated. Most are linear or cyclical and very few come close to reflecting the dense and intricate relationships, systems and politics of organizations and the processes required to enact sustainable improvements. We illustrate how using complexity and network concepts can better inform knowledge translation (KT) and argue that changing the way we think and talk about KT could enhance the creation and movement of knowledge throughout those systems needing to develop and utilise it. From our theoretical refinement, we propose that KT is a complex network composed of five interdependent sub-networks, or clusters, of key processes (problem identification [PI], knowledge creation [KC], knowledge synthesis [KS], implementation [I], and evaluation [E]) that interact dynamically in different ways at different times across one or more sectors (community; health; government; education; research for example). We call this the KT Complexity Network, defined as a network that optimises the effective, appropriate and timely creation and movement of knowledge to those who need it in order to improve what they do. Activation within and throughout any one of these processes and systems depends upon the agents promoting the change, successfully working across and between multiple systems and clusters. The case is presented for moving to a way of thinking about KT using complexity and network concepts. This extends the thinking that is developing around integrated KT approaches. There are a number of policy and practice implications that need to be considered in light of this shift in thinking.http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3385_85c937ce3180c119b6f1de73c7e99d7b.pdfKnowledge Translation (KT)Evidence-Based PracticeImplementation ScienceComplex Adaptive Systems (CASs)ComplexityNetworksIntegrated Knowledge Translation |
| spellingShingle | Alison Kitson Alan Brook Gill Harvey Zoe Jordan Rhianon Marshall Rebekah O’Shea David Wilson Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation International Journal of Health Policy and Management Knowledge Translation (KT) Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Science Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs) Complexity Networks Integrated Knowledge Translation |
| title | Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation |
| title_full | Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation |
| title_fullStr | Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation |
| title_short | Using Complexity and Network Concepts to Inform Healthcare Knowledge Translation |
| title_sort | using complexity and network concepts to inform healthcare knowledge translation |
| topic | Knowledge Translation (KT) Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Science Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs) Complexity Networks Integrated Knowledge Translation |
| url | http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3385_85c937ce3180c119b6f1de73c7e99d7b.pdf |
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