Geriatrics, interprofessional practice, and interorganizational collaboration: a knowledge-to-practice intervention...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Primary Care Research

Background:

• Caring for frail seniors necessitates expertise in geriatrics, interprofessional practice, and interorganizational collaboration.
• Significant gaps exist in health professional training for these core competencies, despite a growing elderly population.
• A knowledge-to-practice (KTP) process was implemented to bolster the capacity of Ontario's family health teams and Community Health Centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the knowledge-to-practice gap in geriatric care competencies.
• To enhance the skills of primary care teams in caring for frail seniors.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a KTP process and digital toolkit.

Main Methods:

• A KTP framework guided the development of training modules and a digital toolkit.
• A train-the-facilitator approach was used for knowledge transfer.
• Multimethod strategies were employed for implementation and practice change.

Main Results:

• 82% of targeted primary care teams engaged in the train-the-facilitator process.
• The training was highly valued and led to personal and team practice changes.
• The digital toolkit is an enduring and frequently utilized resource.

Conclusions:

• Bridging the knowledge gap in frailty care requires a multifaceted approach.
• The KTP framework facilitated a staged process leading to practice improvements.
• The developed online toolkit continues to influence practice and professional development.