The in-between world of knowledge brokering

Universities would reward Inclusion of decision makers in research processes Creation of centres that connect researchers directly with health service clinicians, managers, and policy makers Synthesis of interdisciplinary bodies of knowledge into key actionable messages relevant to pressing service questions Dissemination of brief, plain language research summaries through face to face exchanges between the doers and users of research The health service would reward Active involvement of its clinicians, managers, and policy makers in research relevant to pressing health service questions Support for operational research and development on its own activities Change management driven by research based evidence Inclusion of researchers in decision making processes Innvaer and colleagues' systematic review of efforts to link research and policy better arrived at this same conclusion: "personal two-way communication between researchers and decision-makers should be used to facilitate the use of research. Knowledge brokering. 2006. ( www.chsrf.ca/brokering/index_e.php ) Summary points Neither universities nor the health service provide much incentive for ongoing connections between researchers and clinicians, managers, or policy makers More formal recognition is needed for the interpersonal role of knowledge brokering in connecting the research and decision making processes Knowledge brokering consists of individual brokers, supporting agencies, and a portfolio of resources and supports that make health services research and decision making more accessible to each other Initial experience in Canada suggests that adopting a knowledge brokering approach improves the culture for evidence informed decision making