Moving knowledge into practice

Paramedics apply knowledge in their practice every day; it can be explicit in the form of treatment guidelines, or implicit through clinical experience. However, the systems and processes of how knowledge is moved from creation to application are not widely appreciated in the paramedic profession. Knowledge is constantly created, adapted, and transformed as we learn and better understand the natural world. The two most common sources of knowledge in healthcare are research studies and clinical experience. Bridging the ‘gap’ between knowledge and practice is however not a straightforward process, as merely attaining knowledge is not a predictor for its use or application in clinical practice. A key component of modern healthcare is to provide the best clinical care to patients based on the most up-to-date and sound evidence, known as ‘evidence-based practice’. It then becomes prudent to understand how paramedics interact with the knowledge that emanates from research studies and clinical experience, and how those interactions affect their clinical practice.