Engaged Knowledge Translation

According to Banner et al. (2019), integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a research approach researchers and partners use to understand a health care issue by understanding the gaps and what is needed in a particular problem. Knowledge translation is the synthesis, exchange, and application of knowledge by relevant stakeholders to accelerate the benefits of global and local innovation in strengthening health systems and improving people’s health (Rushmer et al., 2019, p.2). This can be through email, journal publishing, or promoting health through networking and presentations.

 The plan for my health promotion topic is to include the stakeholders who are already engaged in health equity, integrate research policies such as organizations like First Nation Health Authority, and enhance a national level of collaborations with the International Journal of Indigenous Health (FNHA, 2015; IJIH, 2025). Through the publishing and disseminating of research, my health promotion topic can reach other health researchers so they can be informed on current trends and issues and integrate knowledge transfer through these processes.

Integrating knowledge translation within health communities necessitates research that employs a strength-based approach (Rushmer et al., 2019). This method is essential for effectively distributing knowledge transfer when conducting research, collecting data, and communicating priorities and their underlying purposes (Nguyen et al., 2020; Rushmer et al., 2019). Focusing on what Indigenous communities require from healthcare professionals, these initiatives are rooted in evidence-based research and published on websites and in health journals (NCCIH, 2025). 

As shown by Corso et al. (2022), Indigenous-led strategies are more likely to facilitate and implement the integration of Indigenous healing practices. A key element of these strategies is community engagement, which is crucial and ensures that the community is involved and connected (Banner et al., 2019). This, along with Elder support and respect for Indigenous ceremony or tradition, further strengthens the bond between the community and the health care professionals (Corso et al., 2022).

According to the authors, “Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a research approach that brings together researchers, along with other stakeholders that have knowledge about a particular healthcare issue” Banner et al., 2019, p.1). Integrating knowledge translation to the larger medical community's responsibility in supporting these Indigenous-led collaborations is required to fill the knowledge gaps for better health outcomes. There is a gap in the understanding among health officials about how to translate the knowledge of healthcare professionals to address the needs from an Indigenous perspective (Nguyen et al., 2020).

Indigenous people are a marginalized population that faces discrimination in Canada due to colonialism and misunderstanding of their culture, history, and health disparities (Williams et al., 2019). The goal is to reduce racism within the Indigenous populations in healthcare. As part of the reconciliation efforts in ways to communicate ethically and soundly from researchers and meet an organization's mission and vision (NCCIH, 2025).

According to the researchers (Banner et al., 2019), participatory patient engagement, along with the researcher’s knowledge, is a strength that can improve health outcomes. This strategy will improve patient health care from an Indigenous viewpoint, though a limitation is the consent from Indigenous patients. This research approach is a strategy to develop research that works to reduce gaps in practice and reflect the insights, needs and priorities of those most affected by health research outcomes (Banner et al., 2019).

Partnerships between the stakeholders and working collaboratively to identify key actions from research to make decisions are crucial for advancing knowledge translation healthcare into implementation (Nguyen et al., 2020). These decision-makers, who include managers, educators, policymakers, provincial and government administration, and coordinators, have a significant influence on shaping the future of healthcare through the sharing of research (Nguyen et al., 2020). The sharing circle, a healing practice for Indigenous people, is a prime example of a culturally sensitive strategy (Corso et al., 2022). When there is a collaboration between Elders, knowledge keepers and healers that the larger medical community actively supports for better healthcare, reduced gaps from research through teams and building partnerships (Banner et al., 2019; Corso et al., 2022). 

Engaging with Indigenous researchers can reduce the gaps with effective strategies that will enhance and promote research purposes, meeting ethical guidelines with synthesis and timely reports of research findings (Banner et al., 2019; Rushmer et al., 2019). The research and health dissemination aim to support Indigenous people's needs and perspectives (NCCIH, 2025).

It is important to include Indigenous people in evaluating the effectiveness of health promotion strategies, particularly in community engagement in knowledge translation initiatives.

References

Allen, L., Hatala, A., Ijaz, S., Courchene, D., & Bushie, B. (2020 Mar). Indigenous-led health care

partnerships in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 192 (9) E208-E216. https://doi.10.1503/cmaj.190728

Banner, D., Bains, M., & Carroll, S. (2019) Patient and public engagement in integrated Knowledge translation research: Are we there yet?. Research Involvement and Engagement 5, 8 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-019-0139-1

Corso, M., DeSouza, A., Brunton, G., Yu, H., Cancelliere, C., Mior, S., Taylor-Vaisey, A.,

MacLeod-Beaver, K., & Côté, P. (2022 June 16). Integrating Indigenous healing practices within collaborative care models in primary healthcare in Canada: a rapid scoping review. BMJ Open. 12(6) https://doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059323

NCCIH. (2025). About our work. https://www.nccih.ca/317/About_Our_Work.nccih

Nguyen, T., Graham, I. D., Mrklas, K. J., Bowen, S., Cargo, M., Estabrooks, C. A., Kothari, A., Levis, J., Macaulay, A. C., Macleod, M., Phipps., D., Ramsden, U.R., Renfrew, M., Salsberg, J., & Wallerstein, N. (2020). How does integrated knowledge translation (IKT) compare to other collaborative research approaches to generating and translating knowledge? Learning from experts in the field. Health Research Policy and Systems, 18(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-020-0539-6

Rushmer, R., Ward, V., Nguyen, T., & Kuchenmüller, T. (2019). Knowledge translation: Key concepts, terms and activities. In: Verschuuren, M., van Oers, H. (eds). Population Health Monitoring. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76562-4_7

Williams. D.R., Lawrence, J.A., Davis, B.A. (2019 Apr 1). Racism and health: Evidence and

needed research. Annual Rev Public Health. 40:105-125. https://doi:10.1146/annurevpublhealth-040218-043750