How to Implement an Integrated Knowledge Mobilization Approach

Knowledge mobilization (KM) is about getting the right information to the right people in the right format at the right time, so as to influence decision-making by individuals. These individuals can be older adults, caregivers, or other key stakeholders such as healthcare providers or policy makers (Simeonov, Kobayashi, & Grenier, 2017). In this chapter we argue that integrated knowledge mobilization, where there is a two-way exchange between stakeholders that is integrated into all steps of a project, is needed. The challenge is that without effective two-way KM, there is an estimated 17-year gap between a request for research funding and when the results are put into practice in a real-world setting (Morris, Wooding, & Grant, 2011). Furthermore, for every $1 spent on new discoveries, $0.01 is spent on sharing the findings (Farmer et al., 2008). With integrated KM and dedicated resources towards implementation, the evidence-practice gap can be significantly decreased. This chapter offers tools and tips for helping you close the research to practice gap through your work.