Defining knowledge translation

Straus et al rightly say 'Challenges exist at different levels, including the health care system (e.g., financial disincentives), the health care organization (e.g., lack of equipment), health care teams (e.g., local standards of care may not be in line with recommended practice), individual health care professionals (e.g., variations in knowledge, attitudes and skills in critically appraising and using evidence from clinical literature) and patients (e.g., low adherence to recommendations). Frequently, multiple challenges are present that operate at different levels of the health care system.'

At every stage in the knowledge cycle, there are barriers and challenges that are consistently greater in developing countries. This means that people in developing countries are dying for lack of knowledge.

To explore these issues in depth, I would like to invite the authors and CAMJ readers to join Healthcare Information For All by 2015 (HIFA2015), a global network of more than 2500 health professionals, researchers, publishers and authors, supported by the British Medical Association, WHO and others. Together we are working for a future where every person worldwide will have access to an informed healthcare provider.

For further information, and to join (free), please see: www.hifa2015.org

Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh MB,BS Coordinator, HIFA2015 Co-director, Global Healthcare Information Network 16 Woodfield Drive Charlbury, Oxfordshire OX7 3SE, UK

Conflict of Interest:

None declared