Translation in the health professions: converting science into action

Abstract

The systematic translation of evidence-based research findings, tools, and information into practice is critical to improving the quality of our nation's health. However, despite several decades of advances in developing medical knowledge based on high-quality empirical evidence, widespread implementation of these findings into practice in diverse applied settings has not been achieved. This article reviews definitions and conceptual models that describe the translation of research from basic discovery to real-world applications, summarizes the various issues involved in the process of translation, discusses multiple barriers, and provides recommendations to surmount these hurdles. Areas of further research in this arena are suggested. Finally, the article concludes that translational research is an important area to continue to pursue requiring long-term collaborative commitment among researchers and practitioners.