Abstract
There are mounting expectations that health care will be rapidly transformed by developments
in genetics. While genetic technologies bring hope for effective diagnosis and treatment
of a wide range of medical conditions, challenges have also emerged as to its application.
Simply put, how do we ensure that knowledge gleaned from diverse sources will be collected,
consulted, analyzed appropriately, and turned into informed policy? This question
is particularly relevant for a broad community of stakeholders including pediatric
health care professionals and policy makers, because as stakeholders they have a voice
in how the information is ultimately used. New strategies are needed to involve all
users of the knowledge particularly early on in the process. A team funded by the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research is currently focusing on this issue and is
proposing a knowledge translation strategy relating genetics to pediatric health.
An interdisciplinary approach characterized by consultation and collective engagement
with stakeholders from an early stage and throughout the research process is essential
to promote potential use and ownership of the results. Comments from users on the
areas of research, sources of data, the evidence and drafts of the work in progress
would increase the possibility of formulating recommendations better suited to inform
decision making process in public health policy orientation. As a result, we can expect
greater integration and acceptance of the recommendations, more pertinent guidelines
for the physician, and maximal benefit for the patient, the ultimate consumer.
Keywords
Pediatrics - policy - knowledge translation - genetics
