Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Oct 19;11(1):140.
doi: 10.1186/s13012-016-0504-5.

Knowledge brokering for healthy aging: a scoping review of potential approaches

Dwayne Van Eerd  1   2 , Kristine Newman  3 , Ryan DeForge  4 , Robin Urquhart  5 , Evelyn Cornelissen  6 , Katie N Dainty  7   8
Affiliations

Knowledge brokering for healthy aging: a scoping review of potential approaches

Dwayne Van Eerd et al. Implement Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Developing a healthcare delivery system that is more responsive to the future challenges of an aging population is a priority in Canada. The World Health Organization acknowledges the need for knowledge translation frameworks in aging and health. Knowledge brokering (KB) is a specific knowledge translation approach that includes making connections between people to facilitate the use of evidence. Knowledge gaps exist about KB roles, approaches, and guiding frameworks. The objective of the scoping review is to identify and describe KB approaches and the underlying conceptual frameworks (models, theories) used to guide the approaches that could support healthy aging.

Methods: Literature searches were done in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, EBM reviews (Cochrane Database of systematic reviews), CINAHL, and SCOPUS, as well as Google and Google Scholar using terms related to knowledge brokering. Titles, abstracts, and full reports were reviewed independently by two reviewers who came to consensus on all screening criteria. Documents were included if they described a KB approach and details about the underlying conceptual basis. Data about KB approach, target stakeholders, KB outcomes, and context were extracted independently by two reviewers.

Results: Searches identified 248 unique references. Screening for inclusion revealed 19 documents that described 15 accounts of knowledge brokering and details about conceptual guidance and could be applied in healthy aging contexts. Eight KB elements were detected in the approaches though not all approaches incorporated all elements. The underlying conceptual guidance for KB approaches varied. Specific KB frameworks were referenced or developed for nine KB approaches while the remaining six cited more general KT frameworks (or multiple frameworks) as guidance.

Conclusions: The KB approaches that we found varied greatly depending on the context and stakeholders involved. Three of the approaches were explicitly employed in the context of health aging. Common elements of KB approaches that could be conducted in healthy aging contexts focussed on acquiring, adapting, and disseminating knowledge and networking (linkage). The descriptions of the guiding conceptual frameworks (theories, models) focussed on linkage and exchange but varied across approaches. Future research should gather KB practitioner and stakeholder perspectives on effective practices to develop KB approaches for healthy aging.

Keywords: Healthy aging; Knowledge broker; Knowledge transfer.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Inclusion of knowledge brokering (KB) approaches
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Brazil K, Kaasalainen S, Williams A, Rodriguez C. Comparing the experiences of rural and urban family caregivers of the terminally ill. Rural Remote Health. 2013;13(1):2250. - PubMed
    1. Giesbrecht M, Crooks VA, Williams A, Hankivsky O. Critically examining diversity in end-of-life family caregiving: implications for equitable caregiver support and Canada’s Compassionate Care Benefit. Int J Equity Health. 2012;11:65. doi: 10.1186/1475-9276-11-65. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Giosa J, Holyoke P. Caregiving is not a disease: moving from a reactive to proactive supports for family caregivers across the healthcare system. Healthcare Q. 2014;17(3):36–41. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2014.24018. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Health Quality Ontario Caregiver- and patient-directed interventions for dementia: an evidence-based analysis. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2008;8(4):1–98. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hollander M, Liu G, Chappelle N. Who cares and how much? the imputed economic contribution to the Canadian healthcare system of middle-aged and older unpaid caregivers providing care to the elderly. Healthcare Q. 2009;12(2):42–49. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2009.20660. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types