Moving the needle: Providing evidence based care to older adults with behavioral issues through knowledge translation

The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Committee on Improving the Quality of Cancer Care: Addressing the Challenges of an Aging Population was charged with evaluating and proposing recommendations on how to improve the quality of cancer care, with a specific focus on the aging population. Based on their findings, the IOM committee recently released a report highlighting their 10 recommendations for improving the quality of cancer care. Based on those recommendations, this article highlights ways to improve evidence-based care and addresses rising costs in health care for older adults with cancer. The IOM highlighted three recommendations to address the current research gaps in providing evidence-based care in older adults with cancer, which included (1) studying populations which match the age and health-risk profile of the population with the disease, (2) legislative incentives for companies to include patients that are older or with multiple morbidities in new cancer drug trials, and (3) expansion of research that contributes to the depth and breadth of data available for assessing interventions. The recommendations also highlighted the need to maintain affordable and accessible care for older adults with cancer, with an emphasis on finding creative solutions within both the care delivery system and payment models in order to balance costs while preserving quality of care. The implementation of the IOM's recommendations will be a key step in moving closer to the goal of providing accessible, affordable, evidence-based, high-quality care to all patients with cancer.

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Knowledge translation strategies for sharing evidence-based health information with older adults and their caregivers: findings from a persona-scenario method

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02588-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cynthia Lokker ◽

Stephen J. Gentles ◽

Rebecca Ganann ◽

Rita Jezrawi ◽

Irtaza Tahir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Knowledge Translation ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Information Technologies ◽

Educational Outreach ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Two Phase ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Scenario Method

Abstract Background By understanding the information seeking behaviors of older adults, we can better develop or iterate effective information technologies, such as the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, that provide evidence-based health information to the public. This paper reports health-related information seeking and searching behaviours and provides strategies for effective knowledge translation (KT) to increase awareness and use of reliable health information. Methods We conducted a qualitative study with eighteen older adults using the persona-scenario method, whereby participants created personas and scenarios describing older adults seeking health information. Scenarios were analyzed using a two-phase inductive qualitative approach, with the personas as context. From the findings related to pathways of engaging with health information, we identified targeted KT strategies to raise awareness and uptake of evidence-based information resources. Results Twelve women and six men, 60 to 81 years of age, participated. In pairs, they created twelve personas that captured rural and urban, male and female, and immigrant perspectives. Some scenarios described older adults who did not engage directly with technology, but rather accessed information indirectly through other sources or preferred nondigital modes of delivery. Two major themes regarding KT considerations were identified: connecting to information via other people and personal venues (people included healthcare professionals, librarians, and personal networks; personal venues included clinics, libraries, pharmacies, and community gatherings); and health information delivery formats, (e.g., printed and multimedia formats for web-based resources). For each theme, and any identified subthemes, corresponding sets of suggested KT strategies are presented. Conclusions Our findings underline the importance of people, venues, and formats in the actions of older adults seeking trusted health information and highlight the need for enhanced KT strategies to share information across personal and professional networks of older adults. KT strategies that could be employed by organizations or communities sharing evidence-based, reliable health information include combinations of educational outreach and materials, decision support tools, small group sessions, publicity campaigns, champions/opinion leaders, and conferences.

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Knowledge translation strategies for sharing evidence-based health information with older adults and their caregivers: Findings from a co-design study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-373549/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cynthia Lokker ◽

Rebecca Ganann ◽

Stephen J. Gentles ◽

Rita Jezrawi ◽

Irtaza Tahir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Knowledge Translation ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Information Technologies ◽

Design Thinking ◽

Educational Outreach ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Two Phase ◽

Rural And Urban

Abstract Background By understanding the information seeking behaviors of older adults, we can better develop or iterate effective information technologies, such as the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, that provide evidence-based health information to the public. This paper reports health-related information seeking and searching behaviours and provides strategies for effective knowledge translation (KT) to increase awareness and use of reliable health information.Methods We conducted a qualitative study with eighteen older adults using a design-thinking approach whereby participants created personas and scenarios describing older adults seeking health information. Scenarios were analyzed using a two-phase inductive qualitative approach, with the personas as context. From the findings related to pathways of engaging with health information, we identified targeted KT strategies to raise awareness and uptake of evidence-based information resources.Results Twelve women and six men, 60 to 81 years of age, participated. In pairs, they created twelve personas that captured rural and urban, male and female, and immigrant perspectives. Some scenarios described older adults who did not engage directly with technology, but rather accessed information indirectly through other sources or preferred nondigital modes of delivery. Two major themes regarding KT considerations were identified: connecting to information via other people and personal venues (people included healthcare professionals, librarians, and personal networks; personal venues included clinics, libraries, pharmacies, and community gatherings); and health information delivery formats, (e.g., printed and multimedia formats for web-based resources). For each theme, and any identified subthemes, corresponding sets of suggested KT strategies are presented.Conclusion Our findings underline the importance of people, venues, and formats in the actions of older adults seeking trusted health information and highlight the need for enhanced KT strategies to share information across personal and professional networks of older adults. KT strategies that could be employed by organizations or communities sharing evidence-based, reliable health information include combinations of educational outreach and materials, decision support tools, small group sessions, publicity campaigns, champions/opinion leaders, and conferences.

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Strategies to promote practice nurse capacity to deliver evidence-based care

Journal of Health Organization and Management ◽

10.1108/jhom-05-2013-0089 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 988-1010 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ann Dadich ◽

Penny Abbott ◽

Hassan Hosseinzadeh

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Translation ◽

Practice Nurse ◽

Future Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Content Type ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Nurse Role ◽

Evidence Based Care ◽

Sexual Healthcare

Purpose – Evidence-based practice is pivotal to effective patient care. However, its translation into practice remains limited. Given the central role of primary care in many healthcare systems, it is important to identify strategies that bolster clinician-capacity to promote evidence-based care. The purpose of this paper is to identify strategies to increase Practice Nurse capacity to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare within general practice. Design/methodology/approach – A survey of 217 Practice Nurses in an Australian state and ten respondent-interviews regarding two resources to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare – namely, a clinical aide and online training. Findings – The perceived impact of both resources was determined by views on relevance and design – particularly for the clinical aide. Resource-use was influenced by role and responsibilities within the workplace, accessibility, and support from patients and colleagues. Research limitations/implications – This is the first Australian study to reveal strategies to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare among Practice Nurses. The findings provide a platform for future research on knowledge translation processes, particularly among clinicians who might be disengaged from sexual healthcare. Practical implications – Given the benefits of evidence-based practices, it is important that managers recognize their role, and the role of their services, in promoting these. Without explicit support for evidence-based care and recognition of the Practice Nurse role in such care, knowledge translation is likely to be limited. Originality/value – Knowledge translation among Practice Nurses can be facilitated by: resources-deemed informative, relevant, and user-friendly, as well as support from patients, colleagues, and their workplace.

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Self-harm in older people: a clear need for specialist assessment and care

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.111.104109 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 200 (5) ◽

pp. 356-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michael S. Dennis ◽

David W. Owens

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older People ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Short Term ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Suicide Rates ◽

Self Harm ◽

Evidence Based Care

SummarySuicide rates are generally elevated after episodes of non-fatal self-harm, especially among older adults. Evidence suggests that non-fatal and fatal self-harm are more closely related in older than in younger adults. Older people who have self-harmed need specialist assessment followed by good short-term and long-term evidence-based care.

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