The unintended negative consequences of knowledge translation in healthcare: A systematic scoping review

ABSTRACT

Knowledge translation represents an avenue to address the oft-cited chasm between what should and what does happen in healthcare. Knowledge translation encompasses myriad processes through which different knowledges coalesce to inform practice. However, some reports suggest that experiences with knowledge translation are less than favourable. To better understand these experiences, a systematic scoping review of academic literature was conducted to unveil the unintended negative consequences of knowledge translation and how they were addressed. After screening 9,598 publications, six reported evidence of unintended negative consequences. The most prevalent was emotional labour – negative emotional or psychological sequelae, depression, anxiety, powerlessness, and frustration. These consequences were experienced by knowledge translation brokers, knowledge translation recipients, and knowledge translation producers. All but one publication offered some discussion of strategies to manage or mitigate these unintended negative consequences, including co-design, collaboration, and supported dialogue. These findings suggest there is limited research that explicates the unintended negative consequences of knowledge translation. Given the importance of knowledge translation, this review indicates there is considerable opportunity to advance it, in a better-informed way. Only by considering the unintended negative consequences of knowledge translation can they be identified, addressed, and potentially moderated, if not averted.

KEYWORDS:

• Knowledge translation
• unintended negative consequences
• systematic scoping review

Ethics information

Not applicable.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

Not applicable.

Using third-party material

Not applicable.

Consent

Not applicable.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Maridulu Budyari Gumal -- the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE).