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Engaged scholarship: evaluation of knowledge mobilization for older adults in the community.

Themes: Co researcher

PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER :

Lynn McDonald, Ph.D., University of Toronto

RESEARCH TEAM:

Marie Beaulieu, Ph.D., University of Sherbrooke

Peter Donahue, Ph.D., Renison University College

Corey Mackenzie, Ph.D., University of Manitoba

Esme Fuller-Thomson, Ph.D., University of Toronto

Elsa Marziali, Ph.D., Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

Gloria Gutman, Ph.D., Simon Fraser University

Ariela Lowenstein, Ph.D., University of Haifa

Laurence Kryzanouwski, Ph.D., Concordia University

Gail Wideman, Ph.D., Memorial University of Newfoundland

Ronald Baecker, Ph.D., University of Toronto.

Karen Kobayashi, Ph.D., University of Victoria

CHAIR PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT:

Audrey Allard, master’s student in social work and research assistant

GRANTING AGENCY AND GRANT AMOUNT:

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), $2 194 095

PROJECT COMPLETION DATES:

2012-2017

ROLE OF CHAIR IN THE PROJECT:

Participation at all stages of the overall project.

Translating research material from English to French.

Data collection in Quebec and all the provinces of Eastern Canada

RESEARCH PROBLEM:

For the past five years, multidisciplinary teams of the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) have been working on developing tools based on research currently being conducted in the field of aging. NICE is a national network dedicated to knowledge transfer which comprises various groups such as seniors, students, decision-makers, researchers and practitioners in the form of interdisciplinary teams.  NICE has also has developed more than 100 tools on different topics, published in pocket format. These tools are for seniors themselves as well as for people who live or work with them. Over the last year, the NICE network has received more than 250 000 requests for access to these tools, which will be now available in paper format as well as in a digital form for handheld devices.

GOAL OF THE PROJECT OR RESEARCH QUESTION:

This research program aims at evaluating the scope of a set of tools published in pocket format which were developed from evidence in the field of aging.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Evaluate the degree of uptake and utilization of evidence-based research through the use of pocket tools by practitioners, policy makers and the public, including seniors and their families.
  2. Evaluate which implementation strategies (paper or digital format of pocket tools) are used by seniors, their caregivers and professionals groups.
  3. Evaluate how different user groups apply the evidence on aging according to instrumental, conceptual and symbolic use.
  4. Evaluate the degree of influence that the knowledge mobilization tools have on older adults, their families, practitioners and policy makers, taking into account the format used.
  5. Modify and disseminate the tools in consideration of the conclusions drawn form the above-mentionned analysis.
  6. Engage, train and retain a new generation of students in the field of knowledge transfer research and gerontology in Canada.

MEHODOLOGY:

Various approaches are used, including surveys, group interviews and semi-directed, in-depth interviews.

PROJECT ADVANCEMENT:

Once completed, the data collection tools were translated in French and validated by the Chair. Once the certificate of ethics obtained, the data collection began, under the responsibility of the Chair, in the fall of 2014. It will continue until September 2015.

Since this project is being carried out in collaboration with the team of the National Initiative for the Care of the eldery (NICE), it is also possible to find a description of the Engaged Scholarship project on the organization’s website.

COMMUNICATIONS:

McDonald, L., Baecker, R., Beaulieu, M. et al. (March 26-29th, 2014). Promoting & evaluating use of digital pocket tools for elder abuse screening and response. 5th Pan American Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Cartagena (Colombia).

McDonald L, Baecker R, Beaulieu M, Donahue P, Fuller-Thomson E, Gutman G, Iris M, Kobayashi K, Kryzanowski L, Lowenstein A, Mackenzie C, Marziali E, Rietschlin J, Tamblyn-Watts, L, Wideman G, Spalter T, Hitzig SL, Mirza R. (June 23-27, 2013). A knowledge transfer initiative promoting digital social pocket tools for health aging. Poster presented at the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics: Digital Ageing: A New Horizon for Health Care and Active Ageing. Seoul (Korea).

McDonald L, Baecker R, Beaulieu M, Donahue P, Fuller-Thomson E, Gutman G, Iris M, Kobayashi K, Kryzanowski L, Lowenstein A, Mackenzie C, Marziali E, Rietschlin J, Tamblyn-Watts, L, Wideman G, Spalter T, Hitzig SL, Mirza R. (June 23-27, 2013). The development of the NICE pocket tools – A knowledge exchange project. Poster presented at the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics: Digital Ageing: A New Horizon for Health Care and Active Ageing. Seoul (Korea).

PUBLICATIONS:

N.a.