Research & Knowledge Translation

The Providence Health Care Research and Knowledge Translation Team supports evidence-informed clinical practice and ongoing patient care improvements by offering programs that engage clinicians in research and knowledge translation. Our aim is to create quality practice environments by supporting professional development, through initiatives that encourage nursing and allied health staff to tackle clinically-relevant research and implementation projects to improve the way we provide care.

Our team leads initiatives such as the PHC Practice-Based Research Challenge (started in 2011), the Knowledge Translation Challenge (started in 2016), and the Practical Knowledge Translation series.

Our objectives include:

• coordinate research capacity-building programs for point-of-care clinicians
• provide opportunities (funding, training, resources, and mentorship) to point-of-care clinicians to conduct small-scale research projects, or to develop initiatives that move evidence into practice
• provide expertise to allied health and nursing professionals in their research and/or knowledge translation projects
• liaise with internal and external partners to promote and advance research, create partnerships, and raise the profile of nurse-led and allied health-led research at PHC and in the wider health care community

The annual PHC Practice-based Research Challenge is an award-winning competition open to point-of-care PHC staff. Aimed at those who are new to research, the Research Challenge provides the support and mentorship to develop a research proposal around a research question. Participants will learn basic research skills alongside other teams and apply for funding to conduct a small-scale research project that investigates an issue in their day-to-day practice.

The deadline to submit the LOI is TBD. Full proposals are due TBD.

• Research Challenge 2025 Announcement (link to document) – under construction
• Research Challenge 2025 Guidelines, FAQs and Overview (link to document) – under construction
• Research Challenge 2025 Letter of Intent (Short Application Form) (link to document) – under construction
• Is your project a Research Challenge, KT Challenge or a QI project? Find out more (link to document) – under construction

Past Research Challenge Projects [link to a document RC Funded Teams all 2024.pdf]

Publications from the Research Challenge – [link to a document Articles Research Challenge Projects 2024Sep.pdf]

Evaluation of the Research Challenge has shown positive impacts on participants, including better adoption of evidence-based practice and employee engagement. In addition, PHC has adopted a number of practice changes that originally arose from the Research Challenge (see infographic). Evaluations have been published in peer-reviewed journals (list).

Knowledge translation: the art and science of moving evidence into health care policy and practice.

The goal of the Knowledge Translation (KT) Challenge is to offer health care professionals an opportunity to lead the practice change they wish to see in their health care setting. The program is designed to support point-of-care clinicians in moving evidence into practice. Participants are provided training, mentorship, and funding (up to $5,000) to develop contextually relevant and evidence-based implementation strategies.

Want to find out more about the impact of the KT Challenge initiative at PHC? Read our evaluation papers published in "Implementation Science Journal" and “Journal of Advanced Nursing”.

LOI due October 18, 2024

Application due April 14, 2025

• KT Challenge 2025 - Poster and Guidelines (link to document)
• KT Challenge 2025 - Letter of Intent (LOI) (link to document)
• KT Challenge 2025 - Application Instructions (link to document) – under construction
• KT Challenge 2025 - Application Form (link to document) – under construction
• Is your project a KT Challenge or Research Challenge project? (link to document)
• KT Challenge - Calling All Mentors! (link to document)

KT Challenge Funded Projects (link to document)

The PHC Practical Knowledge Translation (PKT) series (formerly known as the PHC Knowledge Translation Community of Practice) welcomes clinicians, researchers, and other PHC staff to learn about creative and effective ways to improve patient care through sharing research evidence and best practices.

PKT lectures are held three times a year, approximately in January, May, and October. All are welcome to join – either in-person or via Zoom. Past topics have included:

• Best Practices in Documentation: Using Cerner to Support Patient Care and Meet Professional Standards for Documentation
• PKT Session: Caring for People who Use Substances and/or Have Substance Use Disorder(s)
• Truth Telling Through Patient Journey Mapping - Looking Back to Improve the Path Forward for Indigenous Patients
• Diabetes in the Modern World: For Clinicians
• Promoting Mental Health through Exercise: Tips for Clinicians and Patients
• Indigenous Cultural Safety at the SPH Emergency Department
• An Ethical Approach to Supporting Choices When There are Potential Risks of Harm

Recordings of these sessions are available for viewing at:

https://www.providenceresearch.ca/en/phc-practical-knowledge-translation

Agnes (Aggie) Black
Director, Health Services & Clinical Research and Knowledge Translation 

Aggie has a background in nursing, with keen interests in public health, women’s health and research. She has a BSN from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Health from Simon Fraser University.

Riley Louie
Leader, Clinical Projects and Strategic Initiatives

Riley is a physiotherapist by training, having worked previously for Providence in 2013 and returning in 2021 after pursuing further education and research training. He holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from UBC. 

Wilma Chang
Research Coordinator

Wilma worked for many years in academic research in ophthalmology. She has a Master of Science in Public Health and a bachelor’s in Health Informatics.