Mobilizing Outcomes from a 5-year Research Program addressing 'Timely Access and Seamless Transitions in Rural Palliative/End-of-Life (P/EOL) care in Canada': A Knowledge Translation Strategy

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the knowledge translation (KT) strategies employed in the dissemination of the research outcomes produced by a 5-year Research Program addressing 'Timely Access and Seamless Transitions in Rural Palliative/End-of-Life (P/EOL) (named the ICE program). The nature of this interdisciplinary, national research program, made up of 10 independent research projects, necessitates dynamic and varied KT strategies that are tailored to the specific stakeholder user groups identified. Knowledge translation has therefore been targeted to three identified stakeholder user groups: (1) policy and decision makers; (2) health care professionals, including clinicians and program makers, and; (3) end users, including patients and informal caregivers. The KT strategies that have been employed to date will be discussed specific to each of the three noted stakeholder user groups. Although the research program is now formally complete, the KT work is ongoing. Keywords: Knowledge translation, stakeholder user groups, rural palliative health care, interdisciplinary research