Knowledge translation in public health, a case study in Manguinhos, Brazil

Knowledge translation (KT) is a collaborative process between knowledge producers (mostly researchers) and knowledge users (communities and decision-makers) involving many elements like synthesis, dissemination, and sharing. This thesis' main objectives are to understand KT in different research projects and management practices and propose a KT roadmap adapted to the Brazilian context. The three specific objectives pursued were to: i) describe three projects as examples of three different modalities of KT, ii) perform a post hoc analysis of the KT actions and strategies implemented by three projects of the PDTSP-Teias network in the period from 2009 to 2013, and iii) verify how participation in the PDTSP-Teias network facilitated KT between knowledge producers and knowledge users. To this end, this thesis examines KT practices between health promotion research and health practice in the Program for Technological Development and Innovation in Public Health/Programa de Desenvolvimento e Inovação Tecnológica em Saúde Pública (PDTSP-Teias network). An existing KT plan from the Quebec Public Health Institute (Institut national de santé publique du Québec - INSPQ) was employed as a theoretical framework to orient the deductive-inductive approach used to generate and analyze documents, interviews, and focus group materials. Methods: This thesis used a retrospective qualitative multiple case study with three cases nested in the PDTSP-Teias network. The focus was on relevant questions concerning KT in health promotion in Brazil, such as i) what KT approaches did the PDTSP-Teias network adopt, ii) what KT actions and strategies did the three projects of the PDTSP-Teias network implement, and iii) how did participation in the PDTSP-Teias network facilitate KT between knowledge users and knowledge producers. The empirical data included document analysis (reports, books, and scientific papers), semi-structured interviews with knowledge producers (N=9), and one focus group with knowledge users (N=4 participants). The interview guide addressed three sets of questions: project development, KT product elaboration, and interaction between knowledge producers and knowledge users. Results: Regarding the first objective, we were able to distinguish different KT expertise, approaches, and practices of the research groups. From this initial analysis, examples of three different KT practices were identified as Predominantly, Moderately, and Hardly or Not at all. These examples were then analyzed using the eight dimensions proposed by the theoretical framework. The second objective found that six of the eight dimensions analyzed seemed to be better integrated in the projects: D1 Analysis of the Context and Users’ Needs, D2 Knowledge to be Translated, D3 Knowledge about the Knowledge Users, D4 KT Partners, D5 KT Strategies, and D6 Overall KT Approach. However, two dimensions were less well-integrated: D7 KT Evaluation and D8 Resources. The third objective allowed us to see that the lack of KT project evaluation, issues related to KT projects financial resources, lack of organizational and political support addressed to KT projects, and lack of conceptual KT tools to implement KT projects are barriers to KT in Brazil. Nevertheless, albeit with some limits, participation in the PDTSP-Teias network seems to have facilitated KT practices. These results provided a description and an in-depth analysis of the complexity of KT practices in areas of high social vulnerability and contributed to a better understanding of KT practices in Brazil. Conclusion: Considering how the cases were characterized, it can be concluded that KT practices can be quite different even in a similar context and research conditions. These contrasting KT practices may be due to the absence of a suitable conceptual KT tool. Such a tool can fill the gap in Brazil's KT approaches and strategies. Thus, the adaptation of the INSPQ KT plan can allow the evolution of the dialogue between knowledge producers and knowledge users in research projects, understand the context, and contribute to the validation and adoption of KT products. These changes would benefit the change in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of the different groups involved. Lastly, this thesis offers a seminal adaptation of the INSPQ KT plan to the Brazilian context.

Keyphrases: Recherche qualitative, Santé publique, Knowledge translation, Knowledge transfer, Knowledge translation roadmap, Knowledge translation plan, Health promotion, Case study, Framework analysis, Qualitative research, Public health, Brazil