Knowledge to Impact: From Conceptualizing to Mobilizing the Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Knowledge Translation

Background:

• Informal caregivers, often family and friends, are increasingly vital for supporting older adults.
• The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study aimed to understand these caregivers' experiences and unmet needs.
• Effective knowledge translation is essential for translating research findings into improved caregiver support and policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the experiences and unmet needs of informal caregivers in Saskatchewan.
• To describe and evaluate the knowledge translation and mobilization efforts of the study's findings.
• To identify strategies for enhancing caregiver support through research and policy.

Main Methods:

• Partnered with the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) to recruit 355 informal caregivers.
• Utilized the Knowledge Engagement Impact Assessment Toolkit (quantitative and qualitative assessments) to evaluate study impacts.
• Conducted a stakeholder webinar as the primary knowledge translation event.

Main Results:

• Moderate impact scores for conceptualization and knowledge mobilization; lower scores for data collection and analysis due to limited reciprocal engagement.
• The Assessment Portrait highlighted strong collaboration, policy alignment, and outreach efforts.
• Policy recommendations from the study included expanded respite care and streamlined system navigation.

Conclusions:

• Systematic evaluation of research activities underscores the importance of knowledge translation in caregiver support.
• Early and continuous stakeholder collaboration, accessible dissemination, and targeted policy action are vital.
• A structured framework for assessing engagement impact can guide interventions for better caregiver programming and policy reform.