The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)1 defines KT as the uptake of research evidence in practice, including synthesising, disseminating, exchanging and applying knowledge. The term KT encompasses both KT science (also known as implementation science), defined as the study of methods to promote the uptake of research evidence in practice, and KT practice (also known an implementation practice), broadly defined as the development, implementation, evaluation and sustainability of evidence-based programs, practices and policies.
KT practice activities include planning for implementation, supporting implementation, evaluating implementation quality and outcomes, preparing a sustainability plan and building capacity in the practice of KT.
Aim: KT frameworks can be classified as determinant frameworks or evaluation frameworks2. Determinant frameworks identify or systematically structure specific determinants that influence implementation. Evaluation frameworks specify aspects of implementation that could be evaluated to determine implementation success.
Scope: Some determinant frameworks are broad and address a comprehensive set of barriers and facilitators, while others are narrow and focus on one type of determinant.
Level: KT frameworks operate at one or more levels of change, from an individual to a health system.
Note: Terminology describing TMF is inconsistent, as some frameworks are referred to as models (or theories) and vice versa.
Aim: KT models, also called process models, describe the different stages of KT practice2. They guide the iterative process of translating research evidence into practice.
Scope: Some KT models are broad and address the entire implementation process from planning to sustainability. Others focus on a particular implementation aspect such as sustainability.
Level: KT models operate at one or more levels of change, from an individual to a health system.
Note: Terminology describing TMF is inconsistent, as some models are referred to as frameworks (or theories) and vice versa.
Aim: KT theories aim to understand or explain aspects of implementation by addressing how change takes place (i.e., change mechanisms). They consist of “a set of concepts and/or statements that describe, explain and predict phenomena including the relationships between the concepts”3. KT theories can be classified as classical theories or implementation theories2. Classical theories originate from fields external to implementation science (e.g. psychology, sociology, organizational theory). Implementation theories have been developed by implementation researchers, from scratch or by adapting existing theories and concepts.
Scope: Some KT theories are broad in scope, while others focus on a specific aspect of implementation or behaviour change.
Level: KT theories operate at one or more levels of change, from an individual to a health system (e.g., micro, meso, macro theories).
Note: Terminology describing TMF is inconsistent, as some theories are referred to as frameworks (or models) and vice versa.
“Knowledge mobilization is an umbrella term encompassing a wide range of activities relating to the production and use of research results, including knowledge synthesis, dissemination, transfer, exchange, and co-creation or co-production by researchers and knowledge users.”4
Dissemination involves “sharing research results by identifying the appropriate audience for the research findings and tailoring the message and medium to the audience”.5
Implementation involves “the use of strategies to adopt and integrate evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions and change practice within specific settings. Strategies are also focused on changing behaviour”. 6