Translating health research findings into action requires a complex system of linkage and exchange between those who create knowledge and those who must ultimately use or act upon it. The ultimate goals are a) to develop effective and efficient programs, services, products, or procedures that meet the health needs of the individuals that they intend to benefit; b) to achieve the practice goals and needs of those who must administer them; or c) to achieve the programming goals of public policy makers.

Linkage and exchange interventions designed to increase knowledge uptake essentially fall into two categories: a) integration of appropriate stakeholders within the knowledge creation process, and b) engagement of stakeholders in knowledge translation activities related to existing knowledge.