Development of an information management knowledge transfer framework for evidence-based occupational therapy
Abstract
Purpose
Digital technology has changed how people interact with information and each other. Being able to access and share information ensures healthcare practitioners can keep abreast of new and ever changing information and improve services. The purpose of this paper is to present an information management-knowledge transfer (IM-KT) framework which emerged from a study looking at digital literacy in the occupational therapy profession.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was undertaken in three stages. First an in-depth literature review was undertaken, which enabled the creation of an initial conceptual framework which in turn, informed the second stage of the research: the development of a survey about the use of digital technologies. Occupational therapy students, academics and practitioners across five different countries completed the survey, after which refinements to the framework were made. The IM-KT framework presented in this paper emerged as a result of the third stage of the study, which was completed using the Delphi technique where 18 experts were consulted over four rounds of qualitative questionnaires.
Findings
The IM-KT framework assists individuals and groups to better understand how information management and knowledge transfer occurs. The framework highlights the central role of information literacy and digital literacy and the influence of context on knowledge transfer activities.
Originality/value
The IM-KT framework delineates clearly between information and knowledge and demonstrates the essential role of information literacy and digital literacy in the knowledge era. This framework was developed for the occupational therapy profession and may be applicable to other professions striving to keep up to date with best evidence.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the 18 individuals who gave their time and expertise as participants in the Delphi study. The primary author would like to thank the secondary authors, her PhD supervisors, for their continual support and encouragement in the process of research and writing.
Citation
Louise Hamilton, A., Coldwell-Neilson, J. and Craig, A. (2014), "Development of an information management knowledge transfer framework for evidence-based occupational therapy", VINE, Vol. 44 No. 1, pp. 59-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/VINE-12-2012-0051
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited