Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Knowledge translation (KT) is the element of research that focuses on sharing findings with the people that will use the knowledge. Often, this involves health care professionals and patients. Without this integral connection between health research and implementation, new knowledge may not lead to wide spread implementation, or have an impact on health. For these reasons, CIHR includes KT as part of its mandate. The proposed study will assess the outcomes of an arts-based method of KT to disseminate health research. Specifically, a dance-based event will take place to share the mounting research suggesting dance is a useful form of therapy for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). The event will also be livestreamed so participation may take place virtually. The target audience will include people with PD and health professionals. Three main research questions will be explored: Does participation in an arts-based, KT event (1) influence health professionals' referral practices to recommend dance to PD patients?; (2) influence people with PD's perspective on dance as an accessible/worthwhile form of therapy?; and (3) does live versus virtual participation impact outcomes of the KT event? Outcomes of the event will be assessed using both survey and interview data to determine if arts-based KT is an effective way to share health research.