Knowledge translation capacity building for front-line health practitioners at scale: the AH-TRIP initiative’s reach and impact.
Adrienne Young1,2, Ashley Cameron3, Nina Meloncelli4, Rachelle Pitt3, Alita Rushton2,4, Sally Barrimore4,5, Katrina Campbell6, Shelley Wilkinson7, Liza-Jane McBride3, Rhiannon Barnes1,3, Sally Benett8, Gill Harvey9,10, Ingrid Hickman11,12
1Dietetics and Food Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
3Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
4Allied Health, Metro North Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
5Nutrition and Dietetics, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
6Healthcare Excellence and Innovation, Metro North Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
7School of Human Movements and Nutrition Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
8School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
9College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Adelaid, South Australia, Australia
10Australian Centre for Health Service Innovation, Queensland University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
11Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
12Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
The Allied Health – Translating Research into Practice (AH-TRIP) initiative was developed to build capacity in knowledge translation (KT) for front-line health practitioners in Queensland. AH-TRIP addresses this need across 16 hospital and health service districts. It provides KT training, education, support, and recognition through networks, mentoring, and an annual showcase. This paper presents an evaluation of AH-TRIP’s reach, adoption, satisfaction, and impact over the first three years (2019–2021).
The RE-AIM framework guided the evaluation of reach, adoption, satisfaction, and impact of AH-TRIP. Data on participants, adoption of health services, satisfaction, and website statistics were collected. Adoption was health services, with at least one KT project supported by AH-TRIP and at least one AH-TRIP champion. Impact was evaluated through semi-structured interviews with 20 participants, guided by Framework to Assess the Impact from Translational Health Research (FAIT).
986 allied health practitioners across clinical areas participated in at least one component of AH-TRIP, with 25% outside metropolitan centers. Nine of the 16 hospital and health service districts adopted AH-TRIP, achieving impact at the individual, workforce, and health service levels. Enablers were supportive of research culture and AH-TRIP personnel. Barriers included clinician time, workloads, and COVID-19 pressures.
AH-TRIP is a low-cost KT initiative that supports allied health practitioners across dispersed locations. However, higher adoption in metropolitan areas shows the need for more investment and targeted strategies in regional, rural, and remote areas. AH-TRIP is an effective model for enhancing KT capacity among allied health practitioners that could be adapted for other healthcare contexts.
Biography
Dr. Ashley Cameron holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters of Speech Pathology Studies from the University of Queensland. She earned her PhD at the University of Queensland, investigating ways to enhance the participation of individuals with acquired communication difficulties in healthcare settings. Ashley is the statewide Allied Health – Translating Research into Practice (AH-TRIP) Program Lead for the Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer (OCAHO) and actively contributes to implementation science/knowledge translation and value-based care projects undertaken in Queensland Health. Her primary focus is empowering healthcare practitioners with evidence-based practices to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.