Knowledge translation and faculty development: From theory to practice

Abstract

Knowledge translation (KT) is a process that includes the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application of knowledge to ensure best practice in healthcare and education. This chapter will discuss how KT principles, grounded in the knowledge-to-action framework, can facilitate the development, implementation, and evaluation of faculty development activities. The chapter is divided in three sections. The first section provides a definition of KT, outlines the major objectives of the KT process, and discusses the possible applications of KT in faculty development. The second section includes a discussion of the knowledge-to-action framework for integrating knowledge and scientific evidence in practice. The final section illustrates how the knowledge-to-action framework can be applied to faculty development interventions, using an activity on ‘giving effective feedback as an example. This chapter will highlight how faculty development activities can, and should be, conceptualized as valuable KT interventions with the potential to improve faculty development practice and scholarship.