B.C.'s health care organizations are driving evidence-based practice improvements and elevating patient care across the province.
The Knowledge Translation (KT) Challenge is an annual program that has been run in collaboration with BC Cancer, Providence Health Care (PHC) and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) since the first cohort in 2017. This program uses a comprehensive approach that combines training, mentorship and funding to help clinicians build skills and confidence to identify, implement and evaluate evidence-informed practice improvements.
Developing a program for clinicians with competing priorities proved to be a challenge, requiring a collaborative approach between the three organizations to ensure nursing and allied health professionals had the support they needed.
“It is wonderful to work together as a team,” says Amanda Chisholm, senior manager of education and funding initiatives at VCHRI. “Our partnership allows us to be flexible and to better respond to the changing health care environment. We are driven to support teams through the process of implementing evidence-based practice changes that improve patient care and health outcomes.”
“The KT Challenge is an excellent professional development opportunity for clinicians,” says Riley Louie, leader, clinical projects and strategic initiatives with professional practice and nursing at PHC. “Participants are empowered to be change leaders amongst their peers, while also building their networks by participating in large group workshops and closely working with a mentor.”
“Our partnership has provided a wonderful opportunity to share resources, expertise and goals to support clinicians at our respective organizations to implement evidence-informed practice improvements," adds Perla Araiza, lead project coordinator at BC Cancer’s Nursing and Allied Health Research and Knowledge Translation department. "It is exciting that we all have a shared motivation to empower clinicians with the skills needed to identify, address and improve patient care within their clinical settings.”
Expanding partnerships to strengthen evidence-based practice across B.C.
The collaboration extends to the meaningful inclusion of patient partners that participate as member of the KT Challenge Advisory Committee and review panel. By working closely with patient partners, organizers have been able to include the voice of people with lived experiences at every step of the program — from planning to implementation and evaluation.
“Having the opportunity to be a committee member and overseeing the program was very relevant to me as a patient,” explains patient partner Kristi Coldwell. “This ensures my perspective and voice are included at the very beginning of the process and that I have a role in shaping the program. I was able to offer tangible, meaningful ways to integrate more inclusive patient and family perspectives into the overall program and funding aspect.”
To better share learnings between organizations, the program is welcoming Fraser Health and Northern Health as new partners. This expansion will facilitate new connections and support more health care professionals to effectively implement evidence-based practice changes and improve patient care across the province.
“Fraser Health is very excited to join in on the KT Challenge this year and bring this capacity building opportunity in knowledge translation to our frontline staff,” says Kate Keetch, director of evaluation and research services at Fraser Health. “Building skills for better integrating evidence into practice ensures we are saying no to the status quo and are delivering the best possible care to the clients we serve.”
“The KT Challenge program is a special opportunity for teams to participate in a uniquely designed and tested program that has supported teams to mobilize evidence to be successfully applied and sustained in health care settings,” adds Marcelo Bravo, lead of patient-oriented research and knowledge translation capacity building at Northern Health. “The program includes training, mentors, resources, consultations and opportunities for KT skills development in a supportive learning and highly collaborative environment.”
Registration for the 2025 Knowledge Translation Challenge is now open. Submit your letter of intent by October 18, 2024.
