Knowledge brokering in children's rehabilitation organizations: perspectives from administrators

Administrators must balance the demands of delivering therapy services with the need to provide staff with educational opportunities promoting evidence-based practice. Increasingly, the use of multifaceted, interactive knowledge translation strategies, such as knowledge brokering, is suggested as an effective way to encourage clinician behavior changes and implement new knowledge. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe administrators' perceptions of the successes and challenges in using a knowledge broker (KB) to promote the use of evidence-based measures of motor function for children with cerebral palsy.

Administrators from 27 pediatric facilities completed a semi-structured telephone interview following 6 months of knowledge brokering within their organizations. Using thematic analysis, interview transcripts were reviewed to identify common themes.

Six interview themes were identified: "Efficient and Effective," "Stimulating Peer-to-Peer Learning Environment," "Committed and Respected Knowledge Brokers," "Sharing Beyond," "Organizational Beliefs and Values," and "The Dilemma of Moving Forward". Administrators were positive about the KB experience, acknowledging its efficiency and effectiveness. They commented on the stimulating peer-to-peer and interdisciplinary learning environment that the KB process encouraged. Administrators referred to their organizational beliefs and values when discussing their need to make priorities for limited resources, which influenced their decisions about whether to continue with a KB after the study was completed.

Although administrators were philosophically supportive of knowledge brokering, they identified funding and resource constraints and the absence of evidence of the effectiveness of knowledge brokering as major barriers to the continuation of a KB role in their facility.