A new systematic review led by Monash's Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS) has found that 'knowledge brokers' improved adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPG) in health-related settings in two-thirds of studies.
Knowledge brokers are individuals or groups that facilitate implementation of new knowledge, evidence and guidelines into practice. The role of knowledge brokers in different healthcare settings was pioneered by Monash University in response to poor uptake of recommendations in CPGs too often resulting in suboptimal care and preventable harm.
As such, the CMUS research focuses on the emerging role of knowledge brokers and their effectiveness for translating CPGs across a range of health-related settings, including hospitals and aged care facilities.
CPGs assist health professionals to deliver consistent high-quality evidence-based care, however translating evidence from CPGs into clinical practice, also known as implementation, is a challenging process.
Head of School of Primary and Allied Health at Monash University, Professor Terry Haines, said "this review was important for informing the role of knowledge brokers across Australia's healthcare system to improve evidence-based delivery of healthcare for all Australians."
Lead author, Dr Amanda Cross, said "knowledge brokers had a significant impact on guideline implementation in 10 of the 16 studies we reviewed. Our review highlights the key roles of knowledge brokers in implementing guidelines, and can be used to inform future implementation studies."
Dr Cross and Professor Haines are investigators in the EMBRACE study that involves collaborating with five different aged care provider organisations in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. The study is evaluating the role of knowledge brokers in translating new NHMRC Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Medication in People Living with Dementia and in Residential Aged Care. These Guidelines were produced following the recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The EMBRACE study is funded through the Medical Research Future Fund and involves embedded onsite pharmacists acting as knowledge brokers to implement the new guidelines and improve medication safety.
Dr Cross said, "The role of the knowledge broker is consistent with the Australian's Government's planned rollout of on-site embedded pharmacists in Residential Aged Care. Our review can help guide the system-level roles pharmacists will need to undertake to ensure facility, organisation and sector wide improvement in evidence-based care."
The full review has been published in the healthcare journal BMJ Quality & Safety, and can be read here.
