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CONFERENCE REPORT
Improving Quality in Healthcare: Translating Evidence into Practice
Authors
Paula Elouafkaoui DHSRU, University of Dundee/TRiaDS, NHS Education for Scotland Heather Cassie DHSRU, University of Dundee
Background
A consistent finding in health services research is that the translation of research findings into practice is unpredictable and can be a slow and haphazard process.1 It is also well documented that the translation of guidelines into clinical practice requires more than the publication of evidence-based clinical guidelines alone.2-5
Established in 2008, the Translation Research in a Dental Setting (TRiaDS) Programme5 is a multi-disciplinary collaboration that has been formed to develop a programme of knowledge translation research embedded within the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) guidance development process. The TRiaDS Research Methodology Group (RMG) has public, academic, policy, service and professional members, including external national and international leaders in the area of knowledge translation science.
TRiaDS aims to develop and evaluate implementation strategies to support the translation of knowledge into dental practice.
It offers the potential to create a research laboratory for the provision and exchange of evidence-based information between the TRiaDS RMG, dental healthcare professionals, educators and policy makers on how best to translate service and educational initiatives into routine clinical practice.
TRiaDS Objectives
1. To investigate the need for active knowledge translation strategies for SDCEP guidance using an appropriate mix of qualitative and quantitative methods
2. To develop theoretically informed knowledge translation strategies to support implementation of SDCEP guidance
3. To evaluate the effectiveness, cost effectiveness and sustainability of a range of knowledge translation interventions using experimental designs
4. To synthesise knowledge gained from multiple and sequential knowledge translation evaluations using a theoretical framework
5. Through the conduct of the programme to inform practitioners, education providers, policy makers and patients on how to effectively and efficiently translate national recommendations into routine clinical activities.
TRiaDS Methodology
For each guidance document a diagnostic analysis begins at the start of guidance development. Information is gathered about current practice; key recommendations and associated...