Knowledge Exchange

Laura PlettDirector

Canadian Cancer Society Knowledge Exchange Network

January 20, 2009

Overview

• Data

• Information

• Evidence

• Knowledge

Data

• Sources

• Youth Health Survey

• Community Health Survey

• Observations

• Word of mouth

• National data

Information

What is the issue?

• Defining the problem or issue or concern

• E.g. young teen girls who are physically inactive

Real problem!

• Is it just young teen girls are physically inactive?

• How to find out?

• Are there other issues that need to be addressed before physical activity? E.g. self esteem, self efficacy

Young teen girls

• interests

• activities

• View of the world

• physical activity venues

• choices

• Routine

• Self image

Physical environment

• Availability

• Facilities

• Seasonal activities

• Transportation

• Accessibility

• Types of activities

Evidence

Sources of Evidence

• CCS KEN – www.cancer.ca/ken

• Health-evidence.ca

• Best Practices Portal

• Talking to other regions

• Coming up with something new

Effective Programs

• Who attended?

• How were the programs run?

• What made them effective?

• Can you implement them?

• Can you adapt them to maintain effectiveness?

Applying the evidence• Develop a plan• Involve the target audience• Involve others who are interested and concerned about the issue• Talk about what can be done• Decide on the necessary resources

– Time– People– Money– Facilities– Programs– Costs for materials– Transportation– Instructors

Application

• Put the plan into action

• What is working?

• What needs to change?

• Write it up!

• Talk to someone about it

Knowledge

And the cycle continues . . .

• Survey again – talk to the girls again

• What did you find? Is it meeting their needs?

• Has your intervention addressed the issue?

• If yes, what do you need to do?

• If no, what do you need to do?

Knowledge

• You create the knowledge that is relevant to your context by: – identifying the issues– Addressing them in a way that is meaningful

to your context– Involving the target audience– Learning from the interventions to improve

and create knowledge