Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals: Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19

Peter Van der Graaf; Andrea Burrows; Helen Park; Sarah Sowden

doi:10.1111/hir.12519

Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals: Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19

Peter Van der Graaf^*, Andrea Burrows, Helen Park, Sarah Sowden

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Healthcare and Nursing Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

79 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Although knowledge sharing online has been recognised as an important strategy for health professionals to apply research findings to their practice, limited research exists on how to develop and implement these platforms to help facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Objectives
This study evaluated an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice developed in the North East of England and Yorkshire during COVID-19 to support UK health and care professionals to reduce the impact of the wider consequences of COVID-19.

Methods
Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (n = 8) and users of C-WorKS (n = 13), followed by an online survey (n = 19) among a wider group of users to analyse knowledge use.

Results
Interview and survey findings highlighted several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to support future development of online knowledge sharing platforms.

Discussion
Online knowledge sharing supports six ‘pillars’ of successful research and innovation partnerships. This requires distributed forms of leadership and linking of different knowledge sharing strategies, and careful combination of platforms with communities of practice.

Conclusion
Online knowledge sharing provides pragmatic and timely strategies for health professionals in the UK to apply research evidence to their practice. Our study provides generalisable, practical insights in how to develop and implement a knowledge sharing platform.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	177-189
Number of pages	13
Journal	Health Information and Libraries Journal
Volume	42
Issue number	2
Early online date	1 Feb 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12519
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

health services research
internet
knowledge management
knowledge transfer
pandemic
public health

Access to Document

10.1111/hir.12519Licence: CC BY

HILJ-23-0056 - (Accepted version before publication)Accepted author manuscript, 361 KBLicence: CC BY
Health Info Libraries J - 2024 - Graaf - Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice forFinal published version, 1.51 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals: Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19",

abstract = "Background Although knowledge sharing online has been recognised as an important strategy for health professionals to apply research findings to their practice, limited research exists on how to develop and implement these platforms to help facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. Objectives This study evaluated an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice developed in the North East of England and Yorkshire during COVID-19 to support UK health and care professionals to reduce the impact of the wider consequences of COVID-19. Methods Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (n = 8) and users of C-WorKS (n = 13), followed by an online survey (n = 19) among a wider group of users to analyse knowledge use. Results Interview and survey findings highlighted several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to support future development of online knowledge sharing platforms. Discussion Online knowledge sharing supports six {\textquoteleft}pillars{\textquoteright} of successful research and innovation partnerships. This requires distributed forms of leadership and linking of different knowledge sharing strategies, and careful combination of platforms with communities of practice. Conclusion Online knowledge sharing provides pragmatic and timely strategies for health professionals in the UK to apply research evidence to their practice. Our study provides generalisable, practical insights in how to develop and implement a knowledge sharing platform.",

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author = "\{Van der Graaf\}, Peter and Andrea Burrows and Helen Park and Sarah Sowden",

note = "Funding information: This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) (NIHR200173). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.",

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Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals: Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19. / Van der Graaf, Peter; Burrows, Andrea; Park, Helen et al.
In: Health Information and Libraries Journal, Vol. 42, No. 2, 01.06.2025, p. 177-189.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals

T2 - Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19

AU - Van der Graaf, Peter

AU - Burrows, Andrea

AU - Park, Helen

AU - Sowden, Sarah

N1 - Funding information: This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) (NIHR200173). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

PY - 2025/6/1

Y1 - 2025/6/1

N2 - Background Although knowledge sharing online has been recognised as an important strategy for health professionals to apply research findings to their practice, limited research exists on how to develop and implement these platforms to help facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. Objectives This study evaluated an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice developed in the North East of England and Yorkshire during COVID-19 to support UK health and care professionals to reduce the impact of the wider consequences of COVID-19. Methods Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (n = 8) and users of C-WorKS (n = 13), followed by an online survey (n = 19) among a wider group of users to analyse knowledge use. Results Interview and survey findings highlighted several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to support future development of online knowledge sharing platforms. Discussion Online knowledge sharing supports six ‘pillars’ of successful research and innovation partnerships. This requires distributed forms of leadership and linking of different knowledge sharing strategies, and careful combination of platforms with communities of practice. Conclusion Online knowledge sharing provides pragmatic and timely strategies for health professionals in the UK to apply research evidence to their practice. Our study provides generalisable, practical insights in how to develop and implement a knowledge sharing platform.

AB - Background Although knowledge sharing online has been recognised as an important strategy for health professionals to apply research findings to their practice, limited research exists on how to develop and implement these platforms to help facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. Objectives This study evaluated an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice developed in the North East of England and Yorkshire during COVID-19 to support UK health and care professionals to reduce the impact of the wider consequences of COVID-19. Methods Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (n = 8) and users of C-WorKS (n = 13), followed by an online survey (n = 19) among a wider group of users to analyse knowledge use. Results Interview and survey findings highlighted several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to support future development of online knowledge sharing platforms. Discussion Online knowledge sharing supports six ‘pillars’ of successful research and innovation partnerships. This requires distributed forms of leadership and linking of different knowledge sharing strategies, and careful combination of platforms with communities of practice. Conclusion Online knowledge sharing provides pragmatic and timely strategies for health professionals in the UK to apply research evidence to their practice. Our study provides generalisable, practical insights in how to develop and implement a knowledge sharing platform.

KW - health services research

KW - internet

KW - knowledge management

KW - knowledge transfer

KW - pandemic

KW - public health

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JO - Health Information and Libraries Journal

JF - Health Information and Libraries Journal

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ER -

Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals: Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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