Subject(s)
Physician-Patient Relations , Retirement , Humans , Health Status , Retirement/psychologyABSTRACT
The definition and scope of cancer control has been evolving since its inception. The most recent model of cancer control in Canada has acknowledged the importance of knowledge translation to ensure that research results are implemented in practice and will be used to inform policy. However, without effort, the process of translation does not happen on a consistent basis. Knowledge translation focusses on improving the adoption of an innovation, e.g., research results. A number of health organizations in Canada have identified knowledge translation as an important activity and have begun to develop departments or initiatives dedicated to its achievement. As the emphasis in cancer control is on the application of knowledge, knowledge translation has a role to play in attaining the objectives of cancer control in Canada. It is an ideal time for the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control and other Canadian cancer control initiatives to determine where they will locate knowledge translation in relation to their objectives.
Subject(s)
Biomedical Research , Neoplasms/therapy , Technology Transfer , Canada , Clinical Competence , HumansABSTRACT
Increasing cancer rates are a world wide problem. Efforts towards controlling cancer are most effectively implemented through national cancer control programs. The literature has emphasized prevention and screening as main starting points; by applying what we know a substantial amount of cancer could be prevented. As well, in the areas of access to care, treatment and palliation, there are also many gains to be made. However, despite advances in fundamental and applied research across the cancer continuum, there continue to be delays between research discovery and application. Translation of research knowledge has focused on means traditionally part of the research process such as publication in journals. While knowledge may be disseminated via these methods, they appear to have little impact on implementation of new approaches in practice or policy. Research in the area of knowledge translation identifies important elements and strategies most effective in the translation of research findings. Adding a knowledge translation component to national cancer control programs can help ensure that even small efforts directed at cancer control can have maximum impact.
