The Black Dog Institute integrated model of knowledge translation exchange

Key principles of our knowledge translation approach

Integration

Integrated knowledge translation requires active collaboration between researchers, educators, clinicians, consumers and other stakeholders. It connects stakeholders through an iterative process, transforming how each creates, responds to, adapts and applies knowledge. Clinical, education, support staff and research teams provide input at the outset of projects and throughout. Active participation of key stakeholders is vital in sharing what they know to inform decision-making, implementation and evaluation.

Evidence

Evidence derives from a variety of sources: explicit (research evidence), but also tacit (clinical experience, patient, family and carer experience and local context and environment). This expanded notion of evidence to inform decision-making is critical. Knowledge is generated from practical use or application of evidence. It involves personal experience to interpret and apply the evidence and consists of facts, beliefs, perspectives, concepts, judgement and expectations.

Dissemination

Dissemination is viewed as central to the model, and occurs at the outset and throughout the knowledge production process to the end of the project.

Application

Application is diverse and is about promoting change in knowledge, awareness, behaviour, attitudes, capacity, decision-making, policies, programs, products or technology development.

Impact

Impact is concerned with process, context and engagement in addition to whether interventions work in a way that is statistically generalisable. In doing so, we are broadening what it means when we ask: 'Does it work?'