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of local need. At the front line, clinicians know the practical limitations of a body of evidence and have a responsibility to engage in reflective practice to help identify targets for translational research and creation of new knowledge. When research aligns with local need, as a field we have much greater potential to solve prominent clinical problems in innovative and applied ways (Small, 2005). Active dialogue between researchers and clinicians helps to enhance political consciousness and drive policy change (Small, 2005) and the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech- Language Pathology provides an ideal forum for this exchange of information, fostering greater collaborations in real-world contexts, and sharing the outcomes of theoretically driven KTA interventions. Conclusion This column of “What’s the evidence?” set out to explore the evidence for evidence translation to address a common clinical scenario where clinician knowledge fails to be translated into action. While the clinical scenario was not addressed directly, the articles reviewed provide clinicians with useful strategies for confidently and proactively targeting KTA gaps in practice. Of importance, the review suggests that a unique skill set is required to translate research findings into practice. That is, a commitment to EBP isn’t enough and clinicians that endorse EBP must go further, forging a strong allegiance to “evidence translation”. Clinicians should get to know and draw upon KTE models to plan, implement and evaluate translation projects. There is a paucity of research that has systematically addressed KTA gaps and evaluated KTE strategies in the speech pathology field; however, the literature available does suggest that such projects hold great promise for changing practice and driving policy change. Clinicians and researchers alike have a professional responsibility to contribute to this body of evidence, ideally in collaboration. “Practice-friendly dissemination” and sharing of implementation projects are important to showcase innovative ways of addressing translation and the inherent barriers to change. The Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology will continue to provide an excellent forum for sharing such quality improvement and translation initiatives and their clinical and systems-level outcomes. To conclude with the words of Nan Bernstein- Ratner (2006): “Evidence is only helpful to professionals if health service providers seek it out, understand it, and Bernstein Ratner, N. (2006). Evidence-based practice: An examination of its ramifications for the practice of speech- language pathology. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in the Schools , 37 , 257–267. Estabrooks, C.A., Thompson, D.S., Lovely, J.E., & Hofmeyer, A. (2006). A guide to knowledge translation theory. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions , 26 , 25–36. Evenson, A.E., Sanson-Fisher, R., D’Este, C., & Fitzgerald, M. (2010). Trends in publications regarding evidence-practice gaps: A literature review. Implementation Science , 5 , 1–5. Graham, I.D., Logan, J., Harrison, M.B., Straus, S.E., Tetroe, J., Caswell, W., & Robinson, N. (2006). Lost in knowledge translation: Time for a map? Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions , 26 , 13–24. Kagan, A., Simmons-Mackie, N., Brenneman, G., Conklin, J., & Elman, R.J. (2010). Closing the evidence, research, and practice loop: Examples of knowledge apply it” (p. 265). References

transfer and exchange from the field of aphasia. Aphasiology , 24 (4), 535–548.

Jade Cartwright Jade Cartwright is a speech pathologist and lecturer at Curtin University. She is also completing her PhD through the University of Western Australia in the area of primary progressive aphasia. Togher, L., Trembath, D., & Brunac, M. (2011). Barriers and enablers to the use of evidence based practice by speech pathologists working for Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC) (NSW) . Retrieved from Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability, and Home Care website: http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/ file/0005/241655/Barriers_and_enablers_of_evidence_ based_practice_report.pdf Leitão, S., Bradd, T., McAllister, L., Russell, A., Kenny, B., Scarinci, N.,… & Wilson, C. (2012). Emerging ethical and professional issues. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech- Language Pathology , 14 (1), 33–36. Liang, L. (2007). The gap between evidence and practice. Health Affairs , 26 (2), w119–w121. Lizarondo, L., Grimmers-Somers, K., & Kumar, S. (2011). A systematic review of the individual determinants of research evidence use in allied health. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare , 4 , 261–272. MacDonald, S., & Wiseman-Hakes, C. (2010). Knowledge translation in ABI rehabilitation: A model for consolidating and applying the evidence for cognitive- communication interventions. Brain Injury , 24 (3), 486–508. Molfenter, S.M., Ammoury, A., Yeates, E.M., & Steele, C.M. (2009). Decreasing the knowledge-to-action gap through research-clinical partnerships in speech-language pathology. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology , 33 (2), 82–88. Rose, M., & Baldac, S. (2004). Translating evidence into practice. In S. Reilly, J. Douglas, & J. Oates (Eds.), Evidence-based practice in speech pathology (pp. 317–330). Philadelphia: Whurr Publishers. Sales, A., Smith, J., Curran, G., & Kochevar, L. (2006). Models, strategies, and tools: Theory in implementing evidence-base findings into health care practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine , 21 , S43–49. Simmons-Mackie, N.N., Kagan, A., Christie, C.O., Huijbregts, M., McEwan, S., & Willems, J. (2007). Communicative access and decision making for people with aphasia: Implementing sustainable health care systems change. Aphasiology , 21 (1), 39–66. Small, S.A. (2005). Bridging research and practice in the family and human sciences. Family Relations , 54 (2), 320–334. Sudsawad, P. (2007). Knowledge translation: Introduction to models, strategies, and measures . Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research. Retrieved from the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research website: http://www.ncddr.org/kt/products/ktintro/ktintro. pdf

Correspondence to: Jade Cartwright, CPSP

School of Psychology and Speech Pathology Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University

GPO Box U1987 Perth, WA, 6845 phone: +61 (0)8 9266 3039 email: j.cartwright@curtin.edu.au

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JCPSLP Volume 14, Number 1 2012

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au