Fieldwork Educator Use of Knowledge Translation during Occupational Therapy Level II Fieldwork

Knowledge translation (KT) is the exchange, synthesis, and application of knowledge amongst researchers and users to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research to improve overall outcomes, according to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2016). Yet current estimates reveal a persistent 17 knowledge-to-action gap, representing a significant delay in the translation of research and evidence into clinical practice. Evidence suggests barriers to KT implementation being lack of interest in continuing education to stay updated with the latest practices, insufficient time to focus on KT due to other demands. Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educators (FWEs) are among the many professionals facing these barriers and this research aims to answer the research question: To what extent are Occupational Therapy FWEs implementing KT strategies with their Occupational Therapy students in level II Fieldwork Placements, what are effective strategies, what are barriers, and what supports would help overcome any barriers?