title: Knowledge brokering with injured workers: Perspectives of injured worker groups and health care professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to understand the barriers and facilitators in brokering knowledge brokering knowledge to help injured workers make informed decisions about recovery and to support their transitions to return to work (RTW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Perceptions of 63 Injured Worker Groups (IWGs) and 43 Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in facilitating and brokering knowledge were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Critical theory and participatory action research approaches informed the development of a multi-stakeholder research team and the study design to support an exploration into knowledge exchange and transfer. Data was analyzed using a critical occupational perspective to reveal the source of barriers and to identify the facilitators of the knowledge exchange and transfer process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Barriers in transferring knowledge included system barriers, a lack of information accessibility, and problems with variations in injured worker capacity and experience using information. IWG and HCP participants lacked expertise in knowledge transfer. Findings also revealed the interactive knowledge transfer processes that IWGs and HCPs use to help injured workers understand and use information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Change is required to improve knowledge exchange and transfer of information for and to persons with injuries and disabilities. Suggested changes include the development of a sustainable knowledge transfer community of practice, a best practice guide for knowledge brokers such as IWGs and HCPs, and a process for ongoing assessment and evaluation of injured worker information needs and preferences.
authors.affiliation: The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. leshaw@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McDermid
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kothari
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brake
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Argyle
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knott
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D003657:Decision Making; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004651:Employment; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000458:organization & administration*