Knowledge translation in Iranian universities: need for serious interventions.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the status of knowledge translation (KT) in Iranian medical science universities in order to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the most important organizations responsible for producing knowledge in the country.


METHODS
The KT activities were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively in nine universities using the Self-Assessment Tool for Research Institutes.


RESULTS
The strengths and weaknesses of universities were determined using seven main themes: priority setting; research quality and timeliness; researchers' KT capacities; interaction with research users; the facilities and prerequisites of KT; the processes and regulations supporting KT; and promoting and evaluating the use of evidence.The quantitative and qualitative results showed that the Iranian universities did not have an appropriate context for KT. There were significant shortcomings in supportive regulations, facilities for KT activities, and the level of interaction between the researchers and research users.


CONCLUSIONS
The shortcomings in KT were mostly in the area of stewardship and policymaking (macro level), followed by planning and implementation at the universities. In order to strengthen KT in Iran, it should occupy a prominent and focused role in the strategies of the country's health research system.
Jaleh
J
Gholami
Sharareh
S
Ahghari
Abbas
A
Motevalian
Vahid
V
Yousefinejad
Ghobad
G
Moradi
Abbasali
A
Keshtkar
Ali
A
Alami
Saeideh
S
Mazloomzadeh
Mohammad Masoud
MM
Vakili
Reza
R
Chaman
Bahman
B
Salehi
Omid
O
Fazelzadeh
Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. rezamajdzadeh@tums.ac.ir.
Reza
R
Majdzadeh
D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D011050:Policy Making; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000592:standards; D014495:Universities