Knowledge translation is everybody's business

Margaret C. Watson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

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Abstract

Successful application of research outcomes into routine healthcare practice rarely occurs as an immediate result of their publication [1]. A much-cited example is the 40-year delay in the British Navy’s adoption of vitamin C for the prevention of scurvy, despite substantial evidence of benefit from the first ever controlled trial conducted by James Lind in the 1770s [2]. The delayed adoption of research outcomes is often referred to as the evidence-practice gap [3]. Whilst science has moved on in the 200+years since Lind’s study, the gap still persists, contributing to inefficient use of resources and avoidable mortality and morbidity. The more recent 10-year delay in the adoption of prenatal corticosteroids to prevent preterm birth despite unequivocal but under- collated evidence, is estimated to have cost the lives of tens of thousands of babies [4]. Similar ‘gaps’ have been shown with the translation of basic science results into clinical practice [5,6].
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)461-462
Number of pages2
JournalJournal of Controlled Release
Volume330
Early online date25 Dec 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2021

Funding

Margaret C Watson is a health services research and registered pharmacist. She is Professor of Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences. Her academic career spans over 25 years and has focussed upon the safe and effective use of medicines and effective professional practice. Her research includes the synthesis of evidence and its implementation into practice, policy and education. She is the recipient of Fellowships from the Medical Research Council, Leverhulme Foundation and Health Foundation. Mags has served on a range of national research funding committees, has over 100 peer reviewed publications and is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. In 2019, she established her own consultancy business, Watson Research and Training Limited ( https://watsonresearchandtraining.co.uk/ ).

Keywords

  • routine healthcare
  • health science
  • knowledge translation

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