Using consciousness-raising principles to inform modern knowledge translation practices in women's health

In traditional models of knowledge translation in health care, the "expert" researcher disseminates empirical knowledge in a top-down manner to practitioners. Newer approaches extend our view of who needs to be involved in knowledge translation, what counts as evidence, and how knowledge exchange can be facilitated. Multisectoral participation and processes for collective synthesis of evidence increase the potential for the application of knowledge in practice and policy in ways that are mutually reinforcing and address structural inequities. The author examines the use of feminist consciousness-raising practices in virtual communities of practice as a viable framework for knowledge translation on complex health issues. Using the preliminary findings ofa study, she discusses how collective analysis in collaborative processes--which is at the heart of feminist action research--leads to engaged action by participants.