Clinical research coordinators' role in knowledge translation activities in rehabilitation: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

Clinical research coordinators (CRCs) facilitate the interaction between researchers and knowledge users in rehabilitation centres to promote and sustain evidence-informed practices. Despite their presence in rehabilitation settings in Quebec for over 20 years, little is known about their profiles and knowledge translation (KT) activities nor how they can best enact their role. This study explored CRCs' roles and perspectives on the barriers, enablers, and strategies for improving KT activities in rehabilitation settings.

METHODS

We conducted a multi-centre, participatory sequential mixed methods study. In the descriptive quantitative phase, we collected data via an online survey to determine CRCs' role in research and KT. In the subsequent qualitative phase, we conducted an in-person focus group to elicit CRCs' perspectives regarding factors influencing their work in KT, and potential solutions for overcoming these challenges. We used a descriptive and an inductive content analysis approach for the data analysis. The data synthesis was inspired by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework.

RESULTS

All nine CRCs from five partner health regions of a large rehabilitation research centre agreed to participate in the study. The data suggest that CRCs are like knowledge brokers and boundary spanners. As information managers, linkage agents and facilitators, CRCs play a pivot role in diffusion, dissemination, synthesis and tailoring of knowledge to improve evidence informed practices and quality of care in rehabilitation. The factors influencing CRCs' KT activities are mostly linked to the context such as the receptivity of the organization as well as the lack of time and resources, and limited understanding of their roles by stakeholders. Two main suggestions made to enhance CRCs' contribution to KT activities include the harmonisation of expectations between the large research centre and their partner health regions, and better promotion of their role to clinical and research teams.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insights into the scope of CRCs' role. The results shed light on the challenges that they face and potential solutions to overcome them. The knowledge generated in this study can be used to implement this role with similar duties in rehabilitation settings or other health care domains.

Measurement of apparent ion temperature using the magnetic recoil spectrometer at the OMEGA laser facility

The Magnetic Recoil neutron Spectrometer (MRS) at the OMEGA laser facility has been routinely used to measure deuterium-tritium (DT) yield and areal density in cryogenically layered implosions since 2008. Recently, operation of the OMEGA MRS in higher-resolution mode with a new smaller, thinner (4 cm², 57 μm thick) CD₂ conversion foil has also enabled inference of the apparent DT ion temperature (T _ion) from MRS data. MRS-inferred T _ion compares well with T _ion as measured using neutron time-of-flight spectrometers, which is important as it demonstrates good understanding of the very different systematics associated with the two independent measurements. The MRS resolution in this configuration, ΔE _MRS = 0.91 MeV FWHM, is still higher than that required for a high-precision T _ion measurement. We show how fielding a smaller foil closer to the target chamber center and redesigning the MRS detector array could bring the resolution to ΔE _MRS = 0.45 MeV, reducing the systematic T _ion uncertainty by more than a factor of 4.

Indapamide in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension: results of a controlled study

A double-blind trial was carried out in 24 patients with mild hypertension to compare the efficacy and tolerability of indapamide with that of a standard thiazide diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide. After a 6-week washout period on placebo, patients received either 2.5 mg indapamide or 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide per day for 12 weeks. Blood pressure and pulse rate in the recumbent and upright positions were monitored at regular intervals. Laboratory measurements of plasma electrolytes, other biochemical and haematological parameters were made before and after active treatment. The results showed that indapamide treatment produced a statistically significant reduction from placebo levels in diastolic pressure in both the upright and recumbent positions, whereas the reduction was significant only in the upright diastolic pressure with hydrochlorothiazide. There were no significant changes in pulse rate in either active-treatment period. Both drugs produced small but significant reductions in mean plasma chloride and potassium levels, and there was a significant increase in mean serum uric acid in patients receiving hydrochlorothiazide. None of these changes, however, were of clinical importance and all of the patients completed the study.