Knowledge Transfer / Communication

Each stage of our initiative was linked by knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) activities. Through these activities, regional and national stakeholder groups were engaged in dialogue regarding the goals of the initiative, as well as the process by which these goals would be achieved. In addition, communications activities are being undertaken to support future implementation of the project deliverables.

Goals

 Educate, inform, and share knowledge with stakeholders regarding primary mental health care and the development of quality measures through consensus processes

• Create opportunities for dialogue regarding CEQM using KTE best practices such as KTE networks.
• Ensure support for the work of the project and its implementation at regional and national levels
• Create general awareness of the project through the creation and maintenance of a public website

 Challenges

 The initiative was complex in structure and specialized to primary mental health care

• Knowledge transfer and exchange was sometimes impeded by the lack of a “common language” amongst our identified stakeholder groups.
• Budget, human resource and timeline pressures would sometimes inhibit in-depth, regular communications on a regional basis.
• Managing expectations and priorities of all stakeholder groups was sometimes hampered by national/regional differences.
• Continued communications with all of the project’s identified audiences may be required to help with future project implementation; this will require significant and sustained resources.

Understanding how national & regional Knowledge Transfer & Exchange, informed and shaped our project activities

Forging Links

CEQM always sought to create its core products, such as quality measures, based on a distillation of current best practices and activities of primary health care initiatives across Canada. This was made possible through forging links with “sister” PHCTF projects, and major national research institutes (as summarized below) that have been participating in primary health care and mental health reform activities. It also included links to national initiatives such as Senator Kirby’s national consultation process regarding mental health care.

Summary of key linkages:

• The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI),
• The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) ,
• The Saskatchewan Health Quality Council
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

• The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Initiative (CCMHI),
• The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
• The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.
• UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) Primary Health Care Logic Model project.

Maintaining Dialogue and Feedback loops

Our use of KTE and consensus building between diverse groups of stakeholders helped maintain a dialogue over a three year span which in turn helped improve the project. From this dialogue we also learned how the project could be implemented locally and we were able to assume a “knowledge broker” role, sharing knowledge about projects in primary health care from coast to coast. These dissemination activities should increase uptake of the final results of the initiative across Canada. If this knowledge exchange process continues to be supported, it should allow for an enhanced degree of inter-regional collaboration on future health system reform.

Consumer/consumer advocates included in our research and dissemination

Our dissemination activities made a concerted effort to include consumer/people living with mental illness/ user perspectives. We had a high rate of participation from these stakeholders in our surveys and focus groups. Amongst these groups, our emphasis on primary mental health care was seen as both unique and very much needed. We heard that stakeholders appreciated the opportunity to be involved in the shape of the research and were interested in seeing our findings used.

A focus on regional and national knowledge exchanges

At the regional level, KTE sessions occurred in a variety of formats such as:

• contributing to the agenda of existing regional organization/association meetings;
• informal networking at relevant meetings, conferences or events;
• Dialogue with individuals or small groups at regionally-based academic centres.
• On-line information sessions using web based and telephone conferences.

National Knowledge Transfer & Exchange

At the National level, an overview of the project and results from the first survey were presented in a series of KTE events across Canada with multi-stakeholder participants. These sessions provided an overview of the project, opportunities for discussion and dialogue (including capturing of stakeholder feedback) and distribution of communication collateral (project brochures).

Capitalizing upon KTE activities: A KTE network

We sought a commitment from individuals in national and regional KTE forums regarding participation in a national PMHC measurement KTE Network. To date, approximately 270 individuals with representation from every province and territory have agreed to participate. This potential network would be a first step in fostering continued pan-Canadian collaboration regarding implementation of PMHC quality measures.

Extent of regional and national KTE participation

From April 2004 to March 2005, a total of 828 stakeholders participated in dialogue about the initiative. The table below outlines the total number of stakeholders targeted per participating region during 2004/05.

 

Team Lead

Renée Sarojini Saklikar
National Knowledge Transfer Advisor
CARMHA
Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health & Addiction
Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
renees@interchange.ubc.ca

Other team members

Carol Adair Denise Aubé Donald Addington Ellen Anderson Clay Barber June Bergman Ulrieke Birner Monique Carriere John Conway Alex Craciunescu

Martha Donnelley Jennifer Hermann David Haslam Terry Isomura Tania Kyle Alain Lesage Elizabeth Lin Eric MacNaughton Leann Meronek Mike Pennock

Léo-Roch Poirier Radha Puri Mélanie St-Onge Elizabeth Tovey Ellisa Wee Roger Wheeler Natasha Zaslavska

 

v5 Sep 27, 2006

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