Knowledge translation for nephrologists: strategies for improving the identification of patients with proteinuria.
For health scientists, knowledge translation refers to the process of facilitating uptake of knowledge into clinical practice or decision making. Since high-quality clinical research that is not applied cannot improve outcomes, knowledge translation is critical for realizing the value and potential for all types of health research. Knowledge translation is particularly relevant for areas within health care where gaps in care are known to exist, which is the case for some areas of management for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including assessment of proteinuria. Given that proteinuria is a key marker of cardiovascular and renal risk, forthcoming international practice guidelines will recommend including proteinuria within staging systems for CKD. While this revised staging system will facilitate identification of patients at higher risk for progression of CKD and mortality who benefit from intervention, strategies to ensure its appropriate uptake will be particularly important. This article describes key elements of effective knowledge translation strategies based on the knowledge-to-action cycle framework and describes options for effective knowledge translation interventions related to the new CKD guidelines, focusing on recommendations related to assessment for proteinuria specifically. The article also presents findings from a multidisciplinary meeting aimed at developing knowledge translation intervention strategies, with input from key stakeholders (researchers, knowledge users, decision makers and collaborators), to facilitate implementation of this guideline. These considerations are relevant for dissemination and implementation of guidelines on other topics and in other clinical settings.
Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Brenda.hemmelgarn@albertahealthservices.ca
Brenda R
BR
Hemmelgarn
Braden J
BJ
Manns
Sharon
S
Straus
Christopher
C
Naugler
Jayna
J
Holroyd-Leduc
Ted C
TC
Braun
Adeera
A
Levin
Scott
S
Klarenbach
Patrick F
PF
Lee
Kevin
K
Hafez
Daniel
D
Schwartz
Kailash
K
Jindal
Kathy
K
Ervin
Aminu
A
Bello
Tanvir Chowdhury
TC
Turin
Kerry
K
McBrien
Meghan
M
Elliott
Marcello
M
Tonelli
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009398:Nephrology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards