We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Access to health knowledge for health equality: a multi-phase review focused on disability-health.
- Authors
Hu, John C. H.
- Abstract
Background: The existing evidence base indicates increased interest in knowledge translation (KT), or, the dissemination of research to ensure uptake and impact. Given this definition, this study aimed to review existing scholarship on knowledge translation (KT) of health research to people living with disabilities (PLWD), and assess the current state of accessibility of health knowledge for people living with disabilities. Methods: Given existing heterogeneity in literature as well as a number of varying definitions for both disability and knowledge translation, a reflexive, three-phase approach was utilized to improve methodological soundness. Phase I recognizes that existing review-style studies have been conducted on disability-KT. An existing systematic review on KT specific to the field of rehabilitation and physical medicine was analyzed to assess potential best practices towards inclusivity and accessibility for people living with disability. Phase II used the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) database as an information-source with high-specificity to disability-health KT. Phase III sought to rapidly assess the current landscape of systematic reviews relevant to disability-health KT, with four systematic reviews meeting the inclusion criteria across Cochrane, Psycinfo, CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results: The current landscape of disability-health KT is primarily targeted at health professionals who serve PLWD. PLWD are included in KT, mostly as key informants, or as study participants in KT-studies designed as health interventions. Multiple systematic reviews on disability-health KT exist, presenting vastly different foci which prevent assessment of best practices. Conclusions: KT efforts are abundant and can be seen across health research related to disabilities, generating considerable literature and systematic reviews. With regards to meeting the public health objective of equalizing and enhancing access to health knowledge, future knowledge translation efforts intending to provide PLWD with up-to-date health research can be of significant value. Key messages: - Knowledge translation emerges as the most prominently used terminology to describe research dissemination; yet, its use in a search strategy often identifies studies in which people living with disabilities as sources of knowledge as opposed to recipients of knowledge - Intentional strategies to provide equitable access to health information for people living with disabilities can be multi-phase and highly complex if the study is not structured as a health intervention - The existing landscape of systematic review on disability-KT may emphasize evaluation of the effectiveness of KT; future studies on best practices for equitable access to health research can be of significant value
- Subjects
HEALTH services accessibility; SOCIAL determinants of health; HEALTH literacy; RESEARCH funding; HEALTH equity
- Publication
International Journal for Equity in Health, 2024, Vol 23, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1475-9276
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12939-023-02080-5