Background to the meeting

Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a model of research co-production whereby researchers partner with knowledge users who can use or implement the research recommendations and/or findings [1]. According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, IKT is a research approach that involves having knowledge users meaningfully partner on the research team [2]. Ideally, knowledge users are involved from study conception (e.g. defining the research question) to applying and disseminating the findings (e.g. publication). Theoretically, IKT represents a paradigm shift from solely scientist-driven research to collaborative problem-based research involving researchers and knowledge users generating real-life solutions to complex problems [3]. Involving knowledge users, or individuals who can use the research evidence to inform policy and practice decisions, requires partnership in the research process as well as significant involvement and influence from knowledge users [4]. Each stage in the research process is an opportunity for collaboration with knowledge users, including the development of the research questions, selection of the study design and methodology, ethics, tool development, selection of outcome measures, data collection, interpretation of the findings, crafting of the message for various audiences, dissemination and application. IKT is a recognised and accepted tenet of knowledge translation that purports to increase the relevance, applicability and impact of research results [5].

Involving knowledge users, or individuals who can use the research evidence to inform policy and practice decisions, requires meaningful partnership in the research process as well as significant involvement and influence from knowledge users [6]. Each stage in the research process is an opportunity for collaboration with knowledge users, including the development of the research questions, selection of the methodology, tool development, selection of outcome measures, data collection, interpretation of the findings, crafting of the message for various audiences, dissemination and application.

Although the research evidence underpinning IKT processes is promising, the field is in its infancy and several knowledge gaps remain. An evaluation of funding programmes to support knowledge translation showed that, compared to the traditional researcher-centred approach, co-produced research involving researchers and knowledge users was perceived to be more likely to improve the health of Canadians, create more effective health services and products, and strengthen the healthcare system [3]. A scoping review that evaluated knowledge user engagement in rehabilitation research found knowledge gaps in how knowledge users were identified and involved in the IKT process [7]. Another scoping review that examined IKT practices found that IKT activities were poorly reported and not theory based, and that the beneficial outcomes of IKT approaches remained unclear [8].

To address knowledge gaps and improve the state of IKT science, the Integrated Knowlege Translation Research Network (IKTRN) was founded in 2016 [6] (https://iktrn.ohri.ca/aboutus/who-we-are/). The purpose of this Network was to establish a collaborative interdisciplinary team to improve conceptual clarity, assess IKT impacts, develop theories and measurement tools, create capacity-building resources, and train researchers and knowledge users in IKT. The research network includes 42 IKT researchers, 29 knowledge users, 11 implementation scientists and 17 trainees with national and international linkages and collaborations. This group is well positioned to make significant contributions to IKT science.

Methods

Setting and participants

In 2017, the IKTRN issued a call to Network members to submit one-page proposals for producing concept papers of about 20–30 pages in length. The objective of the call was to further define the area of IKT, advance the understanding of IKT by focusing the IKTRN’s future research over the next few years, and inform the next IKTRN meeting. Proposals were reviewed by the executive committee (IDG, AK, CM) for alignment with the IKTRN’s mandate. The full papers were also peer reviewed. Authors who wrote a concept paper for the call (i.e., work that was not previously underway) received a $1500 CAD honorarium. Authors who already had papers underway were invited to have their work discussed with the other concept papers and be published in a forthcoming special issue.

In October 2018, the IKTRN hosted an invitational meeting in Ottawa, entitled IKTRN State of the Science Colloquium, of the lead authors of the concept papers and knowledge users. The purpose of the meeting was to share the ideas described in the concept papers, discuss their implications for advancing the field of IKT/research co-production and outline an IKTRN research agenda from the perspectives of researchers and knowledge users. Although research ethics board approval was not required for this report, all lead authors and knowledge users provided consent to publish their data, and reviewed and approved the final manuscript. Here, we report the proceedings of the 2018 IKT State of the Science Colloquium.

The format of the day-long meeting involved an opening keynote who reviewed the mandate of the IKTRN and activities to date. Then, attendees presented a 3-min electronic poster (n = 16) of their concept papers (see Additional file 1 for concept paper abstracts; Table 1) to stimulate discussion, which led to the overarching IKT categories and sub-categories. Subsequently, attendees were asked to break off into small groups to discuss the concept papers by categories (Table 1) and determine the research priorities. The small groups reassembled for a whole group research priority discussion.

Table 1 Characteristics of the concept papers presented at the meeting
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Data collection and analysis

We categorised concept papers under the following headings to reflect their content and facilitate presentation flow: IKT theory and ethics, IKT methods, patient engagement and IKT, and IKT evaluation and impact. After the presentations, attendees broke into small groups to discuss the implications of the presentations for the field of IKT. Attendees then reassembled to present the main points of their small group discussions and prioritise the areas to guide an IKT research agenda. All presentations and discussions were documented using field notes and audio recordings.

We used qualitative content analysis to characterise the IKT overarching concepts that emerged from the discussions as well as priority directions for future IKT research [9]. First, a reviewer (LB) filled field note gaps by listening to the recordings of the entire proceeding. LB then read the field notes and in their entirety to gain a holistic sense of the data. During the second reading, LB segmented the text to reflect important information related to IKT and the objectives of the meeting (i.e. IKT concepts, implications and future research) and transferred this data into an excel spreadsheet. Subsequently, LB proposed a set of codes, finalised by consensus with IDG, and coded the data, which was then categorised based on recurring codes reflecting underlying patterns or indicating important issues for the participants. We checked our findings by sending the results to meeting participants to ensure our report accurately reflected participants’ discussions [10].

Results

Twenty-four participants attended the meeting, including researchers (n = 11), knowledge users (n = 7) and trainees (n = 6) (see Additional file 2 for attendees’ biographies). Researchers and knowledge users mostly represented Canadian universities, funding agencies and provincial health services. Trainees include individuals at the masters, doctoral and postdoctoral level working with a supervisor or co-supervisor who is a member of the IKTRN and is engaged in research that uses an IKT approach or is contributing to the science of IKT. Member checking resulted in few minor edits (e.g. rephrasing) and all members agreed that the data was accurately represented.

Research agenda

Seven overarching categories emerged from these proceedings: theory, methods, process, promoting partnership, definitions and distinctions, capacity-building, and role of funders (Table 2). Participants expressed that greater theoretical clarity was required, including guiding frameworks for using and evaluating IKT processes. Discussions revealed that deeper development of IKT methodological concepts, including designs, outcomes, evaluation tools and reporting standards would advance the IKT field. Additional guidance for both researchers and knowledge users about how to initiate and optimise the IKT process is needed. Similarly, strategies for promoting meaningful and equal partnerships between researchers and knowledge users, including addressing leadership and power imbalances, was identified as a priority. IKTRN members identified the need to define and create a common language for IKT as well as to distinguish it from other similar concepts (e.g. participatory research and patient/community engagement). The process of capacity-building for the IKTRN members, trainees and others was considered. Specifically, building IKT capacity among current IKT experts by developing a centralised repository to share resources and for developing the next generation of IKT experts (both researchers and knowledge users). Finally, exploring the role of funders in advancing IKT was important to participants.

Table 2 IKT categories derived from group discussions
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Discussion

Discussions lead to the emergence of a preliminary agenda for future research primarily aimed within the IKTRN, but also informative for other IKT scholars and knowledge users interested in advancing the field. Main research agenda priorities within the overarching categories included (1) improving clarity about IKT theories and frameworks; (2) describing the process for engaging knowledge users in the IKT process; and (3) identifying IKT outcomes and methods for evaluation.

Attendees identified the need to develop a common understanding of theories and frameworks and how these are unique from, and overlap with, other collaborative or co-production approaches. IKT shares common principles with many collaborative research approaches, including co-production of knowledge, participatory research, linkage and exchange, knowledge production, engaged scholarship, patient engagement or involvement, and community-based research [11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. Given that terms could be used interchangeably despite subtle and potentially important differences suggests a need to make explicit how IKT concepts and processes are similar to, and unique from, existing collaborative research approaches. A common understanding of IKT’s terms, theories and frameworks will provide researchers and knowledge users common concepts and vocabulary, the ability to better synthesise and compare the literature, and a more systematic understanding of IKT. Work is required to develop, test and refine IKT theories and frameworks.

The research agenda should also better describe the role, experiences and processes for partnering with knowledge users in IKT. As such, the contextual factors that hinder or enable knowledge user partnership in IKT processes, and the influence of leadership and power relations on knowledge users’ ability to meaningfully contribute to the research process or mitigating power imbalances, are key areas for investigation. Such research should lead to recommendations to guide researchers and knowledge users in the optimal use of IKT approaches.

Another priority for the research agenda is to evaluate the impacts of IKT. This involves determining appropriate IKT outcomes that reflect a meaningful collaborative approach, identifying or developing valid and reliable instruments to measure IKT processes and outcomes, and establishing reporting standards for IKT.

Conclusions

By partnering with knowledge users in the research process, the young field of IKT has potential to improve the relevance, impact and efficiency of research. The presentation of concept papers and subsequent discussion initiated a research agenda to advance IKT science and practice, both within the Network and for the broader community. Next steps for the IKTRN will include mobilising network members and other researchers around the identified research agenda.