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Knowledge translation strategies in a community–university partnership: examining local Quality of Life (QoL)

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Abstract

There is a growing interest in quality of life as an integrated approach to addressing key social, environmental and economic determinants of health. The University of Saskatchewan’s Community-University Institute for Social Research, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (grant #410-2004-0669) has examined the process and results of a multi-stakeholder approach to the ongoing sustainability of Saskatoon, Canada as a healthy city with an improving and a more equitably distributed quality of life. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis, together with GIS technology, this research has examined the quality of life across three locales in Saskatoon—representing Low, Middle and High socio-economic status in both 2001 and 2004. The participatory action research approach used in this work ensures the value of the outputs to the stakeholders. Given the strong recognition of the importance of interfacing policy, research and community, and the growing impatience with the limited application of research findings to social and health practices and policies, this project has undertaken four major knowledge translation/transfer strategies, above and beyond the traditional academic channels: (1) engagement of local media on a consistent basis, (2) implementing community policy forums to ensure continued community readiness and uptake, (3) facilitation of and successful functioning of a steering committee, and (4) employment of an action researcher to operate as a policy entrepreneur. This paper will review and discuss each of these strategies and outline the evaluative research being done to document the success of these strategies.

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Notes

  1. Saskatoon is a mid-sized prairie city and Saskatchewan’s largest city with a population of 207,000 and growing. A significant factor in Saskatoon’s population growth is the Aboriginal ‘baby boom’. According to a recent study by the Canada West Foundation, over 40% of Saskatoon’s Aboriginal population is under the age of 14—the highest in Western Canada (McNairn 2001). Saskatoon has identified many areas that need improvement such as addressing the growing gap between the rich and poor and more specifically, reducing child poverty, youth dislocation, and improving social housing.

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Acknowledgements

The actions outlined in this paper would not have been possible without the hard work of the two action researchers employed by the quality of life project: Peter Krebs and Maria Basualdo. Further the continued support of the numerous members of the Steering Committee is central to the ongoing work of the Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, L8S 2K1, Hamilton, Ont, Canada

    Allison Williams

  2. The City Planning Branch, City of Saskatoon, 3rd Avenue North, S7K 0J5, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

    Bill Holden

  3. Inter-Professional Health Sciences Offices, University of Saskatchewan, 432-221 Cumberland Avenue, S7N 1M3, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

    Peter Krebs

  4. Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, S7N 5E5, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

    Nazeem Muhajarine

  5. Community-University Institute for Social Research (CUISR), City of Saskatoon, 1200 Otter Bay Road, VON 2M1, Pender Island, BC, Canada

    Kate Waygood

  6. College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, V2N 4Z9, Prince George, BC, Canada

    James Randall

  7. Department of Sociology, University of Saskatchewan, #1019—9 Campus Drive, S7N 5A5, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

    Cara Spence

Authors
  1. Allison Williams
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  2. Bill Holden
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  3. Peter Krebs
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  4. Nazeem Muhajarine
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  5. Kate Waygood
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  6. James Randall
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  7. Cara Spence
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allison Williams.

Appendices

Appendix A

“Living Proof” information advertisements published in The StarPhoenix

figure a1

Appendix B

The Facsimile of the cover page of the 28-page special newspaper insert, Taking the Pulse, was distributed to 76,000 households by The StarPhoenix

figure b2

Appendix C

Research theme summary forum posters produced for participants to take away for display in their offices

figure c3

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Williams, A., Holden, B., Krebs, P. et al. Knowledge translation strategies in a community–university partnership: examining local Quality of Life (QoL). Soc Indic Res 85, 111–125 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-007-9123-5

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