Knowledge Translation Planning Template
©
INSTRUCTIONS: This template was designed to assist with the development of Knowledge Translation (KT) plans for research or non-research projects. It is
universally applicable to health and other disciplines. Begin with box (1) and work through to box (13) to address the essential components of the KT
planning process. Two e-learning modules are available for additional support:
https://bit.ly/2rh0LZo
When will partner or knowledge
user (KU) engagement happen?
Integrated KT
From idea formulation straight
through
After idea formulation & straight
through
End of Grant
At point of dissemination &
project end
Beyond the project
Note: Not all partners will be engaged
to the same extent or at the same point
in time. Some will be hired for specific
activities.
What will partner(s) or KUs bring
to the project? How will they
assist with developing,
implementing or evaluating the
KT plan?
Do you require KT expertise and
how will this be accessed?
Scientist(s) with KT expertise
Consultant with KT expertise
Knowledge broker/specialist
KT supports within the
organization(s)
KT supports within partner
organization(s)
KT supports hired for specific
task(s)
Note: If your KT involves
implementation for practice or behaviour
change, include an implementation
specialist or scientist.
Note: Capture their specific roles in
letters of support to funders, if requested.
(1) Project Partners
(2) Partner Engagement
(3) Partner Roles
(4) KT Expertise
© 2008, 2013, 2019 The Hospital for Sick Children
Notes
Who could benefit from this
evidence?
Researchers
Practitioners/service providers
Public
Media
Patients/consumers
Decision makers
Policy makers/government
Private sector/industry
Research funders
Volunteer health sector/NGO
Other:
______________________
Who could benefit from this evidence?
Which KU(s) or audiences will you target?
Researchers
Practitioners or service providers
Public
Media
Patients/consumers
Decision makers
Policy makers/government
Private sector/industry
Research funders
Volunteer health sector/NGO
Other: __________________________
What are the KT Goals for each KU
audience?
Generate awareness, interest, buy-in
Share knowledge
Inform decision-making
Inform research(ers)
Facilitate policy change
Facilitate practice or behavior
change*
Commercialization/technology
transfer
Other: ______________________
(5) Knowledge Users (KUs)
6) Main Messages (MM)
(7) KT Goals
© 2008, 2013, 2019 The Hospital for Sick Children
Notes
Note: Have you included any KUs on your
project team? If so, who and why? (be strategic)
What is your overarching main message?
What main messages do you anticipate
sharing with your top 3 KU audiences?
KU1
KU2
KU3
OR
No idea yet; messages will emerge at end of
grant and/or through collaboration with partners.
Consider: What you can feasibly do within this project
given time and resources. Aim for defining your Single
Most Important Thing (SMIT) and/or Bottom Line
Actionable Message (BLAM)
*Practice or behaviour change goals require an
Implementation Plan in addition to an overarching
KT plan. For support see: https://bit.ly/333VkyB
Audiences
1 2 3
↓ ↓
Which KT strategies will you use? Consider your KT Goal(s) and select accordingly. KUs, MMs, KT Goals and KT strategies should align with each other.
(8) KT Strategies
© 2008, 2013, 2019 The Hospital for Sick Children
Role-Based
- Knowledge Broker
- Champion/opinions leader
- Consultant
- Leadership
- Collaboration/partnership
Educational
- Materials (guide, toolkit, pamphlet)
- Plain language summary
- Policy brief
- Grey literature
- Publication
- Workshop, webinar
- Conference
- Professional development
- In-service training
- Network
- Media
- Social media
Arts Based KT
Role Based
- Science collaboration
- Network
Educational
- Peer reviewed publication
- Conference
- Workshop
- Synthesis document
- Other document
Technological
- Social media
Note: If your KT goal includes practice or
behaviour change you should begin with
dissemination goals (share, inform) to set the
stage and create buy in.
Follow with an implementation plan see
The Implementation Game
1
and worksheet
here: https://bit.ly/333VkyB
Generate Awareness, Interest, Buy-In
Share Knowledge, Inform Decision-Making
Inform Research
Facilitate Policy Change
- Patent
- Technology transfer/commercialization
Note: See the Technology Transfer Planning
Template
2
here: https://bit.ly/2Gvp3ru
Role Based
- Collaboration/partnership
- Science policy fellowship, placement
- Knowledge broker
Educational (also see far left column)
- Peer reviewed publications
- Grey literature
- Meeting dialogue
- Policy brief
- Evidence brief/synthesis
- Stakeholder position paper
- Rapid response synthesis
Audiences
1 2 3
↓ ↓
Audiences
1 2 3
↓ ↓
Facilitate Practice or Behaviour Change
Audiences
1 2 3
↓ ↓
Commercialization / Technology Transfer
Integrated KT
3
Project team and
knowledge users collaborate to
shape the research process,
e.g., setting research questions,
deciding on methodology,
recruiting and collecting data,
interpreting findings and
disseminating results.
End of grant KT
3
KT is
undertaken at the completion of
the project.
Both
(9) KT Process
(10) KT Evaluation
© 2008, 2013, 2019 The Hospital for Sick Children
Notes
Note: Describe how you will engage your
KUs, particularly for integrated KT.
(A) How will you know your KT goals have been
achieved?
Reach indicators
4
(# distributed, # requested, #
downloads/hits, media exposure)
Usefulness indicators
4
(read/browsed, satisfied with,
usefulness of, gained knowledge, changed views)
Use indicators
4
(# intend to use, # adapting the
information, # using to inform policy or advocacy,
enhance programs, training, education, or research,
# using to improve practice or performance)
Partnership/collaboration indicators
4
(# products
developed or disseminated with partners, # or type of
capacity building efforts, social network growth,
influences, collaboration)
Program or service indicators (outcome data,
documentation, feedback, process measures)
Policy indicators (documentation, feedback, process
measures)
Knowledge change (quantitative & qualitative
measures)
Attitude change (quantitative & qualitative
measures)
Systems change (quantitative & qualitative
measures)
(B) Guiding Questions for Evaluation
5
1) Who values the evaluation of this KT plan?
What are they saying they need from this
evaluation? (link this to partners, KUs)
2) How have similar KT activities been
evaluated in the past? (link this to partners,
KUs)
3) Why are you evaluating? e.g., for program
growth or improvement; accountability;
sustainability; knowledge generation; research
scholarship/publication, and/or to know if the
KT strategy(ies) met the objectives
4) How does the KT and evaluation literature
inform how you will evaluate your plan?
5) Will you focus on process or outcome
information?
6) Will methods be quantitative, qualitative or
mixed? Do tools exist or will you need to create
your own? (link to KT methods)
7) What perspective or skill set do you need to
help you reach your evaluation objectives? (link
to partners, KUs)
8) How will you share evaluation findings with
your stakeholders and knowledge users?
4
When will KT occur?
What resources are needed
to deliver on this KT plan?
Governing Board
Financial
Human IT
Leadership
Management
Volunteer
Web
Worker
Other:
(11) Resources (12) Budget Items
What budget items are needed for the KT plan?
Accommodation
Art installation or production
Evaluation specialist
Graphics/visual design
Knowledge broker/specialist
Postage costs
Media release
Media product (e.g. video)
Networking function
Open access journal publication
Writer
Production/printing
Other:
5
Public relations
Reimbursement (e.g. time,
parking, travel)
Technology transfer,
commercialization
Teleconferencing
Travel: conferences,
meetings, educational
purposes
Social media
Webinar services
Website development
Venue
(13) Procedures
Describe your KT procedures and
methods.
To evaluate the quality of your KT plan, link to the KT Plan Appraisal Tool
6
here: https://bit.ly/2WIrGMX
NOTE: Be sure to include all KT costs in your budget for funders
Sources:
1 Barwick M. (2018). The Implementation Game. Toronto, ON: The Hospital for Sick Children. https://bit.ly/333VkyB
2 Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer. Technology and Commercialization Planning Template. Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo. https://bit.ly/2Gvp3ru
3 CIHR http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/49505.html
4 Sullivan, Strachan, & Timmons. Guide to Monitoring and Evaluating Health Information Products and Services. https://www.msh.org/resources/guide-to-monitoring-and-evaluating-health-
information-products-and-services
5 Parker, K (2013). KT and Evaluation. Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate. Toronto, ON: Learning Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children.
6 Barwick M. (2019). The Knowledge Translation Plan Appraisal Tool (KT-PAT). Toronto, ON: The Hospital for Sick Children. https://bit.ly/2WIrGMX
Citation: Barwick, M. (2008, 2013, 2019). Knowledge Translation Planning Template. ON: The Hospital for Sick Children.
Permissions: Use of this resource by not-for-profit organizations, for internal research or educational purposes is free of charge. Modification or adaptation are NOT permitted. Use of this resource or
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© 2008, 2013, 2019 The Hospital for Sick Children