Presentation done at Heidelberg University

1. Knowledge Transfer:
Concepts and Applications
in Burkina Faso
Valéry Ridde
Heidelberg, April 24, 2013
Thanks to Christian Dagenais, Catherine Lord, Ludovic Queuille

2. OUTLINE
1. What is knowledge transfer
2. What we have done during the last 5 years
3. What we plan on doing for the next 5 years

5. Paul Krugman
“When I was young and naïve, I
believed that important people took
positions based on careful
consideration of the options. Now I
know better. Much of what Serious
People believe rests on prejudices, not
analysis. And these prejudices are
subject to fads and fashions.”

6. K*
(KT, KE, KTT, KMb, KB, KM, etc.)
Shaxson, Louise with Alex T. Bielak et al. 2012

7. A bit of history on K*
• 1593 Lemon juice and scurvy…
• 1826 The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
• 1920-1990
– Studies of diffusion of agricultural innovations
– Adoption of technological innovations
• 1990-2010
– Impressive growth in efforts to make knowledge more
accessible
– Google: 10,000 shares in 1991 to over 80 million pages
containing the term "KT » now
7

8. Definition: knowledge is?
Knowledge originate from 2 types of information :
–Tacit (experential)
»From practice
–Explicit
»From the research process
»Analyzed
»…Evidence-based
8
8

9. Definition: Evidence-based
9
« Evidence is information that comes closest to the facts of a
matter. The form it takes depends on context. The findings of
high-quality, methodologically appropriate research are the
most accurate evidence.
The evidence base for a decision is the multiple form of
evidence combined to balance rigour with expedience –
while privileging the former over the latter. »
Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement http://www.cfhi-fcass.ca
Links, The newsletter of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, Volume 8, Number 3, Fall 2005, p.7

10. 10
Séries de cas, rapports d’observation
Études transversales, études croisées
Études de cas témoins
Études de cohortes ou de suivi
Essais contrôlés, randomisés
Méta-analyses
Revues systématiques
Littératuredesynthèse
Étudesindividuelles
Adapté de: McGovern DPB et al. (2001). Key topics in evidence-based medicine. Oxford (UK): BIOS, p. 15.

11. Definition : knowledge transfer
« All efforts to help raise awareness and recognize
the research activities and outcomes (...) for use
by the community of practice, policy makers and
the general public that the process is interactive
or not » (FQRSC, 2011, p. 9)
11

12. The three main types of knowledge use
– Conceptual
• Leading to a new understanding of a
situation, facts, etc.
– Instrumental
• Leading to the decision or action by policy makers or
stakeholders.
– Persuasive
• Used as arguments in support of laws, decisions, etc.
12

13. Knowledge transfer models
1. Push
2. Pull
3. Exchange
13

14. PUSH
• Production – > diffusion
• Users not involved in the
problem definition
• Little influence on changes in
practices
14
Researchers Target user groups

15. PULL
• Query to solve a problem
– Research for the user needs
• Provide concrete answers to user questions
– Increased chance of use
15
Researchers Target user groups

16. EXCHANGE
– Interactive
– Frequent exchange
– Intermediate players
(knowledge
broker, managers, …)
16
Researchers
Target user groups

17. Factors influencing the use
1. Characteristics of users
2. Organizational characteristics of the user
community
3. Characteristics of knowledge
4. Transfer and support strategies
5. Characteristics of the researcher and his
environment
17

18. 1. Characteristics of users
• Responsiveness and positive attitude to
research
• Perceived usefulness of research
• Expertise in terms of knowledge from research

19. 2. Organizational characteristics
of the user community
• Organizational culture that values ​​research
• Level involvement of the organization in the
process of transferring
• Strong management leadership
• Consensus about the nature of knowledge needs
• Common and shared vision to achieve results
• Resources dedicated to the activities of TC

20. 3. Characteristics of knowledge
• In line with the values ​​and needs of users
• Applicability
• Level of user participation in knowledge
production
• Accessibility of information
• Time appropriate production

21. 4. Transfer and support strategies
• Must take into account the characteristics of the
target groups and their needs
• Must be based on a mutual relationship of trust
• Exchange mechanisms in place (formal and
informal)
• Common language
• Activities planned in a timely manner
• Knowledge format adaptation
• Support and regular monitoring (systematic
measurement of progress)

22. 5. Characteristics of the researcher
and his environment
• Researchers' attitudes to collaboration
• The ability of researchers to knowledge
adaptation (or to surround himself with people)
• Researchers credibility in the eyes of users
• Researcher's ability to relate
• Funding dedicated to KT activities
• Recognition of the value of KT activities by the
university

23. KT steps
23
Lemire N., Souffez, K., & Laurendeau, M.-C 2009

24. WHAT WE ARE DOING

25. Shaxson, Louise with Alex T. Bielak et al. 2012
K* SPECTRUM

26. Two examples from Burkina Faso
1. Five years of KT about user fees exemption
– http://prezi.com/tqq2ezir6ilf/pratiques-de-
transferts-au-burkina-faso/
1. Knowledge broker with/for a HDSS (Kaya)

27. CONTEXT
• Lack of communication between
researchers and potential users
• Knowledge brokering is a promising way

28. Which knowledge will be transfered ?
• Evidence on four areas of intervention in a
district of Burkina Faso :
• Nutrition and free health care
• Management of malaria
• Maternal health
• Mutual health insurance

29. How is the strategy?
1. Planning of the KB activities
2. Knowledge brokering (KB) activities
3. KB support activities

30. Planning KB activities
• Conduct a literature review on knowledge brokering (KB)
• Recruit an expert in KB training
• Recruit a knowledge broker
• 2 participatory workshops (2 days each) with stakeholders

32. KB activities
• Linkage between KB, practioners and decision-makers
• Information needs identification
• Information management
• Identification of broadcast channels
• Preparation of diffusion material (policy
briefs, PPT, tailored messages, etc.)
• KT at all 3 levels (decision-making, practices, community):
workshops, small group meetings, mass media, forum, etc.

33. KB support activities
• Interactive training on knowledge brokering (5 days)
• Interactive training on change management (5 days)
• Weekly supervision (via Skype)
• Technical support by information management
professional
• 2 weeks internship in Canada

34. Implementation and outcome evaluation
1. Document the implementation of knowledge brokering
activities and their outputs
2. Identify the elements that facilitate or hinder the KB
implementation
3. Measure attitudes of potential users towards research and
their intention to use it
4. Measure the effects of the KB strategies on practices and
decision making