Knowledge exchange is collaborative problem-solving between researchers and decision makers. A leader in knowledge exchange since its inception in 1997, the Foundation's model of effective knowledge exchange involves interaction between decision makers and researchers and results in mutual learning through the process of planning, disseminating, and applying existing or new research in decision-making.
Tremendous improvements in innovation and operational efficiency in healthcare systems can be found when knowledge is exchanged between normally separate groups of people. The Foundation's knowledge exchange work brings researchers and decision makers together to facilitate their interaction. This results in a better understanding of each other's work, new partnerships, and the use of research-based evidence in policy- and decision-making.
Knowledge exchange supports and improves evidence-based decision-making to help ensure the best possible decisions are made in running our healthcare system.
Additional information:
Promising Practices in Research Use
In the broadest sense, a network can be defined as a system of interconnected individuals that interact with each other for mutual assistance or support.
When health system researchers and decision makers commit themselves to ongoing interaction, collaboration, and exchange of ideas, they are participating in the process of linkage and exchange. This can happen in many situations and around various issues, such as meetings about policy or management decisions. In specific research collaborations, it involves planning, producing, and disseminating research, as well as applying research findings in decision-making processes. For the Foundation, face-to-face events designed to meet these objectives are referred to as exchanges.
Tools to Help Organizations Create, Share, and Use Research
An initiative to help health system managers and policy makers overcome some of the challenges of consulting research-based evidence when making decisions.
The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and the Quality Healthcare Network are proud to announce Researcher on Call, a series of conference calls for healthcare researchers and decision makers designed to accelerate improvements in healthcare.
Knowledge Exchange definitions used by the Foundation (other organizations and individuals may define these terms differently)
Reports and publications to help make "linkage and exchange" - the regular sharing of issues and results between researchers and the people who need research - easier
