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Lost in translation: how cultural contexts of health shape knowledge translation processes

18 November 2022 13:00 – 14:00 CET
(virtual),
During a webinar on 18 November 2022, WHO/Europe in collaboration with the WHO Science Division will be launching a Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report, which examines the ways in which cultural contexts influence knowledge translation (KT) processes for health decision-making. 

KT is the exchange, synthesis, and effective communication of reliable and relevant research results in order to make real-life interventions more effective. KT takes place within cultural contexts that can powerfully frame what the policy problems are and what type of research is accepted. While some KT models and frameworks include local context as a factor, they rarely acknowledge the complex understandings of culture that are critical to ensuring effective and relevant knowledge production, communication, translation and use.

The report uses key examples to illustrate these relationships, including the: 

  • acceptance of wearing face masks across cultures during the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • influence of cultural contexts on KT and evidence-informed decision-making arising from the Black Lives Matter movement; and
  • importance of understanding that KT involves translations between different meaning systems as illustrated by a discussion of KT in relation to Indigenous cultures. 

This report contributes to the work of WHO/Europe’s flagship initiative, the Behavioural and Cultural Insights Unit, which aims to promote healthier behaviours by investing in behavioural and cultural insights. It also contributes to WHO’s Evidence Informed Policy Network, which aims to coordinate policy-makers and researchers in order to improve public health. 

At this event, authors will present findings from the report and experts and key stakeholders will reflect on the report’s implications for the wider KT evidence base and national policy-making contexts.  The draft programme is as follows:


Time

Session

Speakers

13:00 –13:05

 

Welcome and Agenda

 

Tanja Kuchenmüller, Unit Head, Evidence to Policy and Impact, Research for Health, Science Division, WHO

13:05 –13:10

Official welcome note

Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, Science Division, WHO

 

13:10 –13:20

Presentation of key findings and messages

Trish Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Research, University of Oxford

Eivind Engebretsen, Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Science, University of Oslo; Vice-Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo; Founding Executive Chair, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Education, Norway

 

13:20 –13:30

Country reflections about the report’s considerations for national evidence-informed policy-making

Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) country focal points for Brazil, Cameroon, Indonesia and Slovenia

13:30 –13:45

Panel reflections about the practical application of findings from the HEN synthesis

Rt Hon. Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

Maureen Dobbins, Professor, School of Nursing, McMaster University; Scientific Director, National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, McMaster University

Roland Bal, Professor, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Raglan Maddox, Fellow, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, Australian National University

  

13:45 –13:55

Moderated discussion with HEN authors and panel

Nils Fietje, Technical Officer, Behavioural and Cultural Insights, WHO/Europe

Marge Reinap, Technical Officer, Health Policy Development and Implementation, WHO/Europe

 

13:55 –14:00

Closing reflections and remarks

WHO/Europe team

 

This article was amended on 15 November 2022. An earlier version omitted to refer to Helen Clark as 'Rt. Hon. Helen Clark'