Development of a measure of knowledge use by stakeholders in rehabilitation technology

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal

Accession No.:

J69927

Journal:

SAGE Open Medicine

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2014 , 2, ,

Publication Website:

http://smo.sagepub.com/content/2/2050312114554331.full.pdf+html

Abstract:

Article describes the development of the Level of Knowledge Use Survey (LOKUS) instrument, a web-based measure of self-reported knowledge use. The LOKUS was developed in the context of assessing effectiveness of knowledge communication strategies in rehabilitation technology. It was validated on samples representing five stakeholder types: researchers, manufacturers, clinician–practitioners, knowledge brokers, and consumers. Its structure is broadly based on Rogers’ stages of innovation adoption. Its item generation was initially guided by Hall et al’s Levels of Use framework. Item selection was based on content validity indices computed from expert ratings. Five representative stakeholders established usability of the web version. The version included 47 items (content validity index for individual items >0.78; content validity index for a scale or set of items >0.90) in self-reporting format. Psychometrics were then established for the version. Analyses of data from small (69 subjects) and large (215 subjects) samples using the LOKUS suggested a conceptual model of four levels of knowledge use: Non-awareness, Awareness, Interest, and Use. The levels covered eight dimensions and six user action categories. The sequential nature of levels was inconclusive due to low cell frequencies. The LOKUS showed adequate content validity and excellent test–retest reliability. It also demonstrated good construct validity for differentiating among new knowledge outputs and among stakeholder types. It showed strong responsiveness to change between baseline and follow-up testing. The LOKUS instrument is valid and reliable for measuring uptake of innovations across diffuse stakeholders of rehabilitation technologies and therefore also for tracking changes in knowledge use.

Author(s):

Stone, Vathsala I., Nobrega, Amanda R., Lane, Joseph P., Tomita, Machiko R., Usiak, Douglas J., Lockett, Michelle M.