Promoting the Use of Measurement Tools in Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Activities and Experiences of Physical Therapist Knowledge Brokers

Background. The use of knowledge brokers (KBs) has been recommended as a mechanism to facilitate the use of research evidence in clinical practice. However, little has been written regarding the practical implementation of the KB role. Objectives. This article (1) describes the brokering activities of 24 pediatric physical therapist KBs (in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, Canada), and (2) reports KBs ’ perceptions of the utility of their role and their experiences with the brokering process. Design. A mixed-methods research design was used in this investigation, which was part of a larger knowledge translation (KT) study that demonstrated the effec-tiveness of using KBs to implement a group of evidence-based measurement tools into practice. Methods. The KBs completed weekly activity logs, which were summarized and described. Semi-structured telephone interviews with KBs were analyzed qualita-tively to provide insight into their perceptions of their role and the brokering process. Major interview themes were identified and verified through member checking