Knowledge Into Action Training

The Knowledge Into Action training provided at the University of Oxford serves as an introduction to implementation science and related interdisciplinary perspectives on the links between research evidence, practice and policy.

Lectures and seminars will cover models and tools for implementing evidence, including the popular ‘knowledge to action’ (KTA) framework. But it will also problematize and critique KTA (and ‘frameworks’ more generally). The training will explore, for example, the tensions between explicit and tacit knowledge, the role of values and power struggles in the policymaking process and the complexities of health system change. The training will also consider more collaborative (‘co-creation’) approaches to research in which the knowledge-action link might be better expressed as ‘knowledge through action’. Practical exercises and interdisciplinary group work will help participants apply learning in a project to improve the use of research evidence in their local workplace settings.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Search the literature for research evidence on strategies for disseminating and implementing evidence
• Discuss the strengths and limitations of different models linking research and practice (e.g. knowledge to action framework, co-creation models)
• Discuss why doctors and other clinicians may fail to follow clinical guidelines
• Select and apply tools and metrics to audit and monitor clinical practice and quality of care
• Involve stakeholders (including service users) in an improvement project
• Explain the interacting contributions of research evidence, values and power struggles in healthcare policymaking
• Prepare a case study of the challenges to implementing evidence in a real-world setting

Applicants should:

• Be a graduate or have successfully completed a professional training course
• Have professional work experience in the health service or a health-related field
• Be able to combine intensive classroom learning with the application of the principles and practices of evidence-based health care within the work place
• Have a good working knowledge of email, internet, word processing and Windows applications (for communications with course members, course team and administration)
• Show evidence of the ability to commit time to study and an employer’s commitment to make time available to study, complete course work and attend course and university events and modules.

Teaching will be led by Professor Trish Greenhalgh, a GP and researcher at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.

The deadline to apply is April 27, 2018.

For more information and to apply, visit the Knowledge Into Action website.