Evaluating the Evidence on Knowledge Brokers: Comparing Strategies to
Support Decision Maker's Translation of Evidence on Physical Activity
and Healthy Body Weight Among Children

CIHR Funded Study
Oct 2003 - Sept 2006
PI: Maureen Dobbins

Position:       Knowledge Broker: September 2004 - August 31, 2005
Please forward resumes to [log in to unmask] by Friday, Sept. 10th.

The knowledge broker activities implemented in this randomized
controlled trial will build on previously existing networks and
resources, so as to optimize current resources, avoid duplication of
services, and provide a feasible and economic alternative for knowledge
translation strategies in public health. The knowledge broker will be
part of a multidisciplinary research team evaluating the effectiveness
of a knowledge transfer and exchange strategy, and will report directly
to the project coordinator and the primary investigator on a regular
basis. The knowledge broker will be located at the City of Hamilton,
Public Health & Community Services Department, Dundas office.

The knowledge broker will be responsible for implementing the following
strategies with public health units across Canada:

* one-to-one interaction with public health decision-makers (primarily
telephone, email and mailed contact). Over the one-year intervention
period, the knowledge broker will initiate contact with decision-makers
on a monthly basis, with decision-makers being encouraged to contact the
knowledge broker more frequently as required. At least one interaction
between the knowledge broker and decision-makers at each participating
health unit will occur face to face, meaning the knowledge broker will
be required to travel for short periods of time across the country
throughout the intervention period.

* Send summaries of systematic reviews on physical activity and healthy
body weight promotion in both hardcopy and electronically, as well as
the full text document to policy and decision-makers in the study.

* Organize and facilitate provincial interactive workshops with policy
and decision-makers to conduct the following:

* present the results of systematic reviews;

* discuss implications for policy/practice;

* discuss the implications of local contexts and needs;

* assess other relevant and important sources of information;

* brainstorm ways to integrate the results of the systematic reviews
with other sources of information;

* establish a network of policy and decision-makers that can support
each other throughout the adoption and implementation process

Qualifications
A qualified knowledge broker for this study is a healthcare
professional, population epidemiologist, or similar combination of
skills and experience with an MSc focused on the healthcare system in
Canada.  The ideal candidate is someone who has practical experience in
program planning in public health, and who is well established within
networks of public health programming and policy in Ontario/Canada. In
addition, the knowledge broker will have knowledge and experience in
interpreting research results; and be familiar with physical activity
and healthy body weight programming in public health in Canada. Salary
will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Role and Responsibilities
The knowledge broker's primary role will be to provide a link between
the producers of systematic reviews (researchers) and potential users of
systematic reviews (program managers in public health). The knowledge
broker will work closely with those individuals and organizations over
the course of one year. The broker's main tasks will be to ensure
relevant research evidence related to physical activity and healthy body
weight promotion is transferred to public health decision-makers in
Canada, in ways that are most useful to them, and to assist them in
translating that evidence into practice within their local context.
Additional tasks will include developing networks among and between
decision-makers and in encouraging existing networks to function
optimally. The knowledge broker will keep a diary throughout the
intervention documenting all interaction with participants, and
providing commentary on how things are going, what could have been done
differently, what appeared to work, and what impact was observed.

Candidates will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the resume,
but only those candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted.

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