Table 1.

Actions that can be taken to advance KT research in primary care

CATEGORYACTIONS BY PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERSACTIONS BY RESEARCHERS
Supporting research
  • Engage in primary care research or quality improvement initiatives as an investigator, a co-investigator, or a member of a project’s advisory group

  • Engage in integrated KT research in primary care settings

  • Provide assistance to local primary care providers wishing to engage in research (eg, British Columbia’s Research Help Desk program40)

Building capacity
  • Promote and participate in research training programs organized by universities (eg, TUTOR-PHC41) or by professional associations (eg, the Ontario College of Family Physicians’ 5-weekend training program42)

  • Participate in scientific conferences (eg, FMF or NAPCRG conference) to gain exposure to KT or PHC research and to network with researchers

  • Establish forums (face-to-face, telephone, Web-based) with researchers for exchange on clinical and research issues

  • Develop undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on KT

  • Develop training and mentorship programs for primary care professionals to work in consulting or knowledge broker roles

  • Work with professional associations to build KT and research workshops within CME activities

  • Establish forums (face-to-face, telephone, Web-based) with primary care providers for exchange on clinical and research issues

Developing infrastructure
  • Advocate for and support the development of primary care practice-based research networks

  • Support the development and linkage of primary care electronic medical records

Increasing visibility
  • Share experiences of KT successes or failures with clinician and researcher colleagues

  • Establish a national symposium on KT practice and science in primary care

  • CME—continuing medical education, FMF—Family Medicine Forum, KT—knowledge translation, NAPCRG—North American Primary Care Research Group, PHC—primary health care, TUTOR-PHC—Transdisciplinary Understanding and Training on Research–Primary Health Care.