Evidence & Policy
A journal of research, debate and practice

Mobilising knowledge in public health: reflections on ten years of collaborative working in Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health

Authors:
Peter van der Graaf Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Peter van der Graaf in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Mandy Cheetham Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Mandy Cheetham in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Amelia Lake Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Amelia Lake in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Mark Welford Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Mark Welford in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Rosemary Rushmer (Emeritus Professor) Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Rosemary Rushmer (Emeritus Professor) in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Janet Shucksmith (retired) Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Janet Shucksmith (retired) in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
, and
Avril Rhodes (retired) Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Avril Rhodes (retired) in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
Restricted access
Get eTOC alerts
Rights and permissions Cite this article

Background:

Fuse was established in 2008 as one of five public health research centres of excellence in the UK funded by the UK Clinical Research Centres collaboration. The centre works across five universities in the North East of England. This is an innovative collaboration and enables the pooling of research expertise. A prime focus of the centre is not just the production of excellent research, but also its translation into usable evidence, a dual focus that remains uncommon.

Aims/objectives:

This practice paper outlines Fuse’s approach to knowledge exchange (KE) by reflecting on ten years of collaborative research between academics and policy and practice partners in the North East of England. We will describe the principles and assumption underlying our approach and outline a conceptual model of four steps in Fuse’s KE process to develop collaborative research and achieve meaningful impact on policy and practice.

Key conclusions:

Our model describes a fluid and dynamic approach to knowledge exchange broken down in four steps in the KE process that are concurrent, iterative and vary in intensity over time: awareness raising; knowledge sharing; making evidence fit for purpose; and supporting uptake and implementation of evidence. These steps support the relational context of KE. Relationship building and maintenance is essential for all stages of KE to develop trust and explore the meaning and usefulness of evidence in a multi-directional information flow that supports the co-creating and application of evidence.

  • Cheetham, M., Wiseman, A., Gibson, E., Khazaeli, B., Van der Graaf, P. and Rushmer, R. (2017) “A Fresh set of eyes?” Negotiating the realities of embedded research in public health, BMJ Open, 7(Suppl 2): bmjopen-2017-016492.43, doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016492.43.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Cheetham, M., Wiseman. A., Khazaeli, B., Gibson, E., Gray, P., Van Der Graaf, P. and Rushmer, R. (2018) Embedded research; a promising way to create evidence-informed impact in public health, Journal of Public Health, 40(1): i6470. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdx125

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Davies, H.T., Powell, A.E. and Nutley, S.M. (2015) Mobilising knowledge to improve UK health care: learning from other countries and other sectors – a multimethod mapping study, Health Services and Delivery Research, 3: 27. doi: 10.3310/hsdr03270

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Fuse KEG (Knowledge Exchange Group) (2014) Considering translational research? A question and answer resource, www.fuse.ac.uk/research/translationalresearch/Translational%20Research%20Q&A%20resource%20final.pdf.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gagliardi, A.R., Berta, W., Kothari, A., Boyko, J. and Urquhart, R. (2015) Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) in health care: a scoping review, Implementation Science, 11(1): 38. doi: 10.1186/s13012-016-0399-1

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Graham, I.D., Logan, J., Harrison, M.B., Straus, S.E., Tetroe, J., Caswell, W. and Robinson, N. (2006). Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map?, Journal of continuing education in the health professions, 26(1): 1324. doi: 10.1002/chp.47

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Goffman, E. (1959) The presentation of self in everyday life, New York: Anchor.

  • Khangura, S., Polisena, J., Clifford, T., Farrah, K. and Kamel, C. (2014) Rapid review: an emerging approach to evidence synthesis in health technology assessment, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 30(1): 2027. doi: 10.1017/S0266462313000664

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kothari, A., Rudman, D., Dobbins, M., Rouse, M., Sibbald, S. and Edwards, N. (2012) The use of tacit and explicit knowledge in public health: a qualitative study, Implementation Science, 7(1): 20. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-7-20

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Masood, S., Kothari, A. and Regan, S. (2018) The use of research in public health policy: a systematic review, Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, fast track, 17 March, https://doi.org/10.1332/174426418X15193814624487

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • McGinity, R. and Salokangas, M. (2014) Introduction: “embedded research” as an approach into academia for emerging researchers, Management in Education, 28(1): 35.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Mitton, C., Adair, C.E., McKenzie, E., Patten, S.B. and Perry, B.W. (2007) Knowledge transfer and exchange: review and synthesis of the literature, The Milbank Quarterly, 85(4): 729768. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-0009.2007.00506.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Morton, S., Wilson, S., Inglis, S., Ritchie, K. and Wales, A. (2018) Developing a framework to evaluate knowledge into action interventions, BMC Health Services Research, 18(1): 133. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-2930-3

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Nilsen, P. (2015) Making sense of implementation theories, models and frameworks, Implementation Science, 10(1): 53. doi: 10.1186/s13012-015-0242-0

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Rushmer, R. and Shucksmith, J. (2018) KEG. AskFuse origins - system barriers to providing the research that public health practice and policy partners say they need, Evidence and Policy, 14(1): 81101. doi: 10.1332/174426416X14829329957024

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stetler, C. (2011) Stetler model, in J. Rycroft-Malone, T. Bucknall (eds), Models and frameworks for implementing evidence-based practice: linking evidence to action (vol 2), Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, pp 5182.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Tabak, R.G., Khoong, E.C., Chambers, D.A. and Brownson, R.C. (2012) Bridging research and practice: models for dissemination and implementation research, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43(3): 337350. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.05.024

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Titler, M.G., Kleiber, C., Steelman, V.J., Rakel, B.A., Budreau, G., Everett, L.Q. and Goode, C.J. (2001) The Iowa model of evidence-based practice to promote quality care, Critical Care Nursing Clinics, 13(4): 497509.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Van der Graaf, P., Cheetham, M., McCabe, K. and Rushmer, R. (2018b) Localising and tailoring research evidence helps public health decision making, Health Information & Libraries Journal, 35(3): 20212. doi: 10.1111/hir.12219

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Van der Graaf, P., Forrest, L.F., Adams, J., Shucksmith, J. and White, M. (2017) How do public health professionals view and engage with research? A qualitative interview study and stakeholder workshop engaging public health professionals and researchers, BMC public health, 17(1): 892. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4896-1

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Van der Graaf, P., Francis, O., Doe, E., Barrett, E., O’Rorke, M. and Docherty, G. (2018a) Structural approaches to knowledge exchange: comparing practices across five centres of excellence in public health, Journal of Public Health, 40(1): i31i38. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdx150

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Van Der Graaf, P., Shucksmith, J., Rushmer, R., Rhodes, A. and Welford, M. (2019). Performing collaborative research: a dramaturgical reflection on an institutional knowledge brokering service in the North East of England. Health research policy and systems, 17(1): 49. doi: 10.1186/s12961-019-0449-7

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Ward, V. (2017) Why, whose, what and how? A framework for knowledge mobilisers, Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 13(3): 477497.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Ward, V., Smith, S., House, A. and Hamer, S. (2012) Exploring knowledge exchange: a useful framework for practice and policy, Social Science & Medicine, 74(3): 297304.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Welford, M. (2018) Crossing knowledge boundaries between researchers and professionals: reflections on six years of the Fuse Open Science Blog. Poster presented at 4th fuse international conference on knowledge exchange in public health, 8-10 May, Vancouver, B.C.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
Peter van der Graaf Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Peter van der Graaf in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Mandy Cheetham Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Mandy Cheetham in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Amelia Lake Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Amelia Lake in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Mark Welford Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Mark Welford in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Rosemary Rushmer (Emeritus Professor) Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Rosemary Rushmer (Emeritus Professor) in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
,
Janet Shucksmith (retired) Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Janet Shucksmith (retired) in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
, and
Avril Rhodes (retired) Teesside University, UK

Search for other papers by Avril Rhodes (retired) in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close

Content Metrics

May 2022 onwards Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 896 531 69
Full Text Views 79 8 4
PDF Downloads 56 11 5

Altmetrics

Dimensions

You are not currently authorised to access the full text of this chapter or article.
Access options
To access the full chapter or article then please choose one of the options below.
Purchase
Pay to access content (PDF download and unlimited online access)
Other access options
Redeem Token
Institutional Login
Log in via Open Athens or Shibboleth. Please contact your librarian if you need any help.
Login with Institutional Access
Personal Login
Login to your BUP account with your individual credentials.
Login with BUP account

Institutional librarians can find more information about free trials here