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Rehabilitation Knowledge to Action Project (REKAP):

A common finding in the literature is that the uptake of clinical research into practice and policy is lacking. A greater emphasis on the translation of best research evidence into clinical practice is needed to improve patient care and the health care system. REKAP aimed to increase adherence to the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care on an inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit at Parkwood Institute. This knowledge translation project was guided by Ian Graham’s Knowledge to Action framework.

An audit-feedback loop was used to identify care gaps between actual and desired adherence and to monitor improvement. Multifaceted guideline implementation strategies to address the care gaps were developed collaboratively between researchers and hospital staff. This team made sure to consider unit organization, care delivery, availability of resources, and the barriers/facilitators to implementing best practices when creating the strategies. Once the strategies were developed and implemented on the stroke unit, the level of adherence was re-evaluated with another chart audit. Increased adherence was found in multiple areas (e.g. blood pressure monitoring, depression screening). REKAP has served as a catalyst for clinical change within several rehabilitation units.

This project was funded by the Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario.

Selected Publications:

Janzen S, McIntyre A, Richardson M, Britt E, Teasell R. Building a Knowledge to Action program in stroke rehabilitation. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2016; 43(5):619-625.