TOWARDS A MORE ETHICAL GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH: A CASE STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION WITHIN THE ALERT COMMUNITY TO PREPARED HOSPITAL CARE CONTINUUM IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH PROJECT
Date
2020-09-28
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0000-0002-4873-1297
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The complex form of knowledge translation (KT) that takes place when community information is used to inform interventions within implementation research (IR) has not been explored within the KT academic literature. Furthermore, research fatigue has not been taken into consideration when evaluating KT processes in the academic literature. Research fatigue occurs when a community has had too much research done to it without seeing proportionate benefit, and become weary of the process. This is an important factor to consider because successful knowledge use within IR projects has the opportunity to reduce risk for research fatigue through community perception of change based on participation in research, whilst knowledge collection without a perceived change has been shown to increase the risk. Considering this premise, the objective of this thesis was to investigate the KT process within a maternal and child health IR project entitled the Alert Community to Prepared Hospital Care Continuum Project. The IR project was funded as development aid through a branch of Global Affairs Canada.
To study this KT process, a case study was designed that included a document review, participant observations, interviews with the members of the research team, and a focus group discussion. Studying the research team’s KT process, there wasn’t a structured KT or research framework, which hindered community knowledge incorporation. Additionally, weaknesses in data analysis due to time constraints and a lack of statistical expertise resulted in survey data not impacting continued implementation. However, the community-based design of the IR project allowed tacit knowledge to be integrated via KT based upon knowledge attained through relationship building and community consultations. Lastly, the structure of development aid itself was found to be problematic, as it reinforced global power inequities through funding restrictions, funding timelines, and through the physically separation of donor wealth from local knowledge. This can be addressed moving forward by doing anti-oppressive work both inside and outside of academia.
Description
Keywords
Global health, research fatigue, knowledge translation, research for development
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Community Health and Epidemiology
Program
Community and Population Health Science