ReviewBMC health services research2022
The roles, activities and impacts of middle managers who function as knowledge brokers to improve care delivery and outcomes in healthcare organizations: a critical interpretive synthesis.
Review in BMC health services research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Implementation outcomes from a multi-site stepped wedge cluster randomized family caregiver skills training trial.Health services research · 2024Trial
- Managerial perceptions of core competencies for healthcare middle managers in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study.International journal of medical education · 2026Article
- Implementing clinical practice guidelines into action: a qualitative study of managing knowledge translation in primary care organisations.Health research policy and systems · 2025Article
- Article
- Knowledge management and knowledge brokering in the Health Promotion Offices in Hungary: a qualitative study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Perceived environmental uncertainty and job involvement: the mediating role of digital technology and organizational trust - a cross-sectional study in primary care facilities in the UK.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Article
- A pre-implementation examination of barriers and facilitators of an electronic prospective surveillance model for cancer rehabilitation: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Academic knowledge brokers in Iran's health sector: Characteristics, skills, and qualifications.Journal of education and health promotion · 2024Article
- Clinical research coordinators' role in knowledge translation activities in rehabilitation: a mixed methods study.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- A qualitative descriptive study of the role of nurse, allied health and physician middle managers who function as knowledge brokers in hospitals.Worldviews on evidence-based nursing · 2022Article
- Influencing mechanism of the use behavior of clinical practice guidelines on antimicrobials: evidence from the integration of theory of reasoned action and organizational readiness for change.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMiddle Managers (MMs) are thought to play a pivotal role as knowledge brokers (KBs) in healthcare organizations. However, the role of MMs who function as KBs (MM KBs) in health care is under-studied. Research is needed that contributes to our understanding of how MMs broker knowledge in health care and what factors influence their KB efforts.
methodsWe used a critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) approach to review both qualitative and quantitative studies to develop an organizing framework of how MMs enact the KB role in health care. We used compass questions to create a search strategy and electronic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Social Sciences Abstracts, ABI/INFORM, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, ERIC and the Cochrane Library. Searching, sampling, and data analysis was an iterative process, using constant comparison, to synthesize the results.
resultsWe included 41 articles (38 empirical studies and 3 conceptual papers) that met the eligibility criteria. No existing review was found on this topic. A synthesis of the studies revealed 12 MM KB roles and 63 associated activities beyond existing roles hypothesized by extant theory, and we elaborate on two MM KB roles: 1) convincing others of the need for, and benefit of an innovation or evidence-based practice; and 2) functioning as a strategic influencer. We identified organizational and individual factors that may influence the efforts of MM KBs in healthcare organizations. Additionally, we found that the MM KB role was associated with enhanced provider knowledge, and skills, as well as improved organizational outcomes.
conclusionOur findings suggest that MMs do enact KB roles in healthcare settings to implement innovations and practice change. Our organizing framework offers a novel conceptualization of MM KBs that advances understanding of the emerging KB role that MMs play in healthcare organizations. In addition to roles, this study contributes to the extant literature by revealing factors that may influence the efforts and impacts of MM KBs in healthcare organizations. Future studies are required to refine and strengthen this framework.
trial registrationA protocol for this review was not registered.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.