KNOWLEDGE ACTION FRAMEWORK FOR DIABETES 1

Knowledge Action Framework for Diabetes

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Knowledge Action Framework for Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens either when the pancreas fails to produce

adequate insulin or when the body of a person fails to effectively utilize the insulin it produces.

Hyperglycaemia is a common adverse effect of uncontrolled diabetes, which can seriously

damage many body's systems, particularly the nerves and blood vessels. The World Health

Organization (2021) indicates that nearly 8.5 percent of adults aged at least 18 years had

diabetes. In 2012, at least 2.2 million deaths happened because of high blood glucose. In 2019,

this condition caused more than 1.5 million deaths. Between 2000 and 2016, the premature

mortality rate from diabetes increased by 5 percent. In high-income nations, the premature

mortality rate as a result of diabetes declined between 2000 and 2010 before increasing from

2010 to 2016. However, the premature mortality rate caused by diabetes increased across the two

periods in middle income countries. On the contrary, the possibility of dying due to one of the

four main non-communicable conditions (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases

and/or diabetes) decreased by 18 percent across the globe. This applied to persons aged between

30 and 70 years (WHO, 2021). The identification of this national problem can be answered

through the knowledge to action translation framework.

Knowledge Action Framework

The knowledge to action framework consists of two related components- knowledge

creation and action cycle. This framework can help in understanding how care providers and

persons with diabetes translate evidence based practices into effective health policies, practices,

as well as programs. Evaluation underpins the whole process, and this framework is iterative. It

recognizes that practices in real world settings can result in further research as well as adjustment

in diabetes program implementation (CDC, 2014). According to Burd et al. (2020), the
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knowledge to action framework identifies important decision points, including when to translate

as well as adopt a given intervention. It also helps in determining the interactions required to

move from one stage to another including dissemination of information to healthcare

organizations and other entities that can improve health. Such organizations can also use the

information for health improvement and purposeful engagement of stakeholders for resource

mobilization. Moreover, the framework can help in determining the infrastructure required to

enhance healthcare’s ability to plan, implement, as well as assess sustainable programs, policies,

plus practices. The last phase of the knowledge to action framework and the aim of many

evidence based practices, is institutionalization of programs, policy, and practice as an

established norm within a social system or community. Some of the barriers that may affect

evidence translation include cultural practices and norms and distortion of information.
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References

Burd, C., Gruss, S., Albright, A., Zina, A., Schumacher, P., & Alley, D. (2020). Translating

knowledge into action to prevent type 2 diabetes: Medicare expansion of the National

Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention. The Milbank Quarterly, 98(1), 172-

196.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Applying the knowledge to action

framework questions to guide planning. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/pdf/k2a-framework-6-2015.pdf

World Health Organization. (2021). Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-

room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes