Grant: Operating Grant: Knowledge to Action

This project aims to accelerate the application of knowledge by leveraging partnerships between researchers and knowledge users (including clinicians and administrators) to bridge a knowledge-to-action gap in the area of antimicrobial stewardship in the ICU setting. Our research is timely as with antimicrobial resistance rates rising and no new antimicrobials being developed, we have the potential to influence a large proportion of the global population. Partnering with Dr. Andrew Morris, lead of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario Adopting Research to Improve Care Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in ICUs (CAHO ARTIC ASP in ICUs) Initiative, we will develop, implement and evaluate an integrated knowledge translation strategy. This strategy will focus on developing and implementing a sustainability plan that combines interactive learning, coaching, and mentorship within a networked model to improve and sustain the ASP at the local, organizational and system levels. Project objectives are to: 1) build capacity in the practice of KT with a focus on sustainability and quality improvement (QI) methods; 2) facilitate developing, implementing, and evaluating sustainability plans with the local teams of the CAHO ARTIC ASP in ICUs Initiative; and 3) develop a sustainability framework that includes scaling-up and spreading strategies for the ASP. Research questions are: 1) What are the effects of implementation of an integrated KT/QI intervention to improve and sustain the CAHO ARTIC ASP in ICUs on selected indicators? 2) What are the effects of implementation of an integrated KT/QI intervention to improve and sustain the CAHO ARTIC ASP in ICUs on selected structural outcomes over time? 3) What barriers and enablers are encountered implementing an integrated KT/QI intervention to improve and sustain the CAHO ARTIC ASP in ICUs?