Ariela Lowenstein
University of Haifa, Israel
Title: International knowledge transfer between Canada and Israel validation of the EASI tool
Biography
Biography: Ariela Lowenstein
Abstract
Statement: Knowledge transfer is the main goal of NICE - National Initiative for Care of the Elderly in Canada. Although at first, it was a local initiative, it changed in 2007 when international members from nine countries were added to this network, including Israel. Knowledge Transfer aims to close gaps between evidence-based research and actual practice. NICE operates through a network of Theme Teams and “Elder Abuse” is one of them. The Elder Abuse team reviewed the evidenced-based literature to develop user-friendly tools for detection and prevention of elder abuse. A brief tool - the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI), developed in Canada by Yaffe et al. (2006), was one of the tools selected. This tool is for physicians’ use to improve identification of elder abuse and neglect. As an international partner, my goal was to transfer this knowledge, validate and adapt the EASI tool for use in Israel by physicians, in hospitals and in community health clinics.
Method: The process was divided into three phases: (a) Translating the tool from English to Hebrew and back translation, by two physicians (b)Activating two focus groups, one an interdisciplinary group in a large hospital; the second a group of physicians at a community health clinic in Northern Israel (c) Administering the tool to older patients.
Results: Some difficulties were encountered related to cultural differences between Canada and Israel and differences in the two health systems; the physicians' reluctance to deal with elder abuse issues; disagreement about the definition of elder abuse. However, on the whole, it was adopted by them.
Conclusion: The International knowledge transfer process is complicated but challenging. Cultural differences must be considered, as they might impact the process.