Development and usability testing of tools to facilitate incorporating intersectionality in knowledge translation

Area of Science:

• Health equity research
• Knowledge translation (KT) science
• Social determinants of health

Background:

• Knowledge translation (KT) has historically overlooked social and contextual factors impacting health equity.
• Intersectionality, originating from Black feminist scholarship, offers a framework to understand how intersecting social identities and power structures influence health outcomes.
• Integrating intersectionality into KT is crucial for advancing health equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and usability test tools that support the integration of intersectionality into the key phases of knowledge translation.
• To provide practical guidance for embedding intersectional analysis within KT processes.

Main Methods:

• An integrated KT approach was employed, involving an interdisciplinary committee to draft tools.
• A mixed-methods usability testing approach was used with KT intervention developers, including semi-structured interviews and the System Usability Scale (SUS).
• Data analysis involved calculating average SUS scores and coding interview feedback using the framework method.

Main Results:

• A toolkit was developed, including an intersectionality primer and phase-specific guidance, with input from 9 Canadian committee members.
• Usability testing involved 31 KT intervention developers from three countries, who recommended shorter tools with more visuals and less jargon.
• Revised tools, including two one-page summaries, achieved SUS scores between 60 and 78, forming a six-document final toolkit.

Conclusions:

• Tools were successfully developed and evaluated to embed intersectionality into knowledge translation practices.
• The toolkit offers practical, actionable guidance beyond merely recommending the use of intersectionality.
• Future research should focus on developing guidance for enhancing social justice within intersectionality-informed KT.