Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions (AIHS) has released a casebook providing concrete examples of how research knowledge can be shared by engaging end users. AIHS supports and provides leadership for research and innovation activities related to health and well-being in Alberta. The book includes examples from the mental health field to demonstrate various knowledge translation strategies as they apply to different audiences, from individuals to organizations.
In one example, the authors describe how personal narratives can help humanize knowledge of schizophrenia to provide a deep emotional connection for an audience. Evaluations of the featured initiative showed that audiences were able to relate to the experience through empathy, which helped reduce stigma.
On an organizational level, a Mental Health Commission of Canada report provides a knowledge transfer lesson about the importance of engaging key people early in a planning process in order to help identify the key audience and tailor information to their needs. Other examples describe the use of technology, as well as face-to-face interactions, to promote engagement and support knowledge-sharing.
See “Bridging the Gap: Knowledge Translation in Alberta,” KT Casebook Volume 1, AIHS, 2010, available at www.ahfmr.ab.ca.