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Background: Knowledge brokers (KBs) facilitate the transfer and exchange of information in health-related contexts. Evidence regarding their effectiveness and influencing factors is currently limited.
Objective: This review aims to systematically gather evidence on knowledge brokering in health settings and assess the contributions of KBs to knowledge translation (KT).

Systematic Review: Conducted with a search strategy developed by a health research librarian.
Databases Searched:
- MEDLINE
- Embase
- PsycINFO
- CINAHL
- ERIC
- Scopus
- SocINDEX
- Health Business Elite
- Relevant grey literature sources
Inclusion Criteria:
- Studies in health-related settings
- Actual applications of knowledge brokering
- Available in English
Initial Results: 7935 records identified;
- After duplicates removal: 6936 screened, 240 full-text reviewed
- 29 articles from 22 unique studies included in thematic analysis.
Designs Represented:
- Qualitative (n = 18)
- Quantitative (n = 1)
- Mixed methods (n = 6)
- Grey literature sources (n = 4)

Variety of Tasks by KBs: KBs served as ‘knowledge managers’, ‘linkage agents’, and ‘capacity builders’.
Outcome Data:
- From 8 studies examined:
- Only 2 met acceptable methodological standards; findings inconclusive regarding efficacy.

Role of KBs: KBs engage in numerous tasks to facilitate KT but their effectiveness remains unclear, necessitating further rigorous investigation.

Knowledge broker, Knowledge translation, Linkage agent, Capacity builder, Knowledge manager, Evidence-based practice.

The challenge in health-related settings revolves around the timely and optimal use of research evidence, which can affect care quality, resource efficiency, and health outcomes. Knowledge brokers have been proposed as intermediaries to enhance communication between researchers and practitioners.

Knowledge Managers: Facilitate the creation and exchange of knowledge.
Linkage Agents: Develop relationships between knowledge creators and users.
Capacity Builders: Enhance the skills and understanding of knowledge users.
Functionality: KBs work collaboratively with stakeholders, developing mutual understanding and identifying emerging concerns, thereby expediting the translation of evidence.

KBs have been operating effectively in the private sector for years, but their role in health has gained attention only recently, with studies indicating a need for evidence supporting their effectiveness and best practices.

Conducted a systematic review along with thematic analysis to synthesize the evidence for KBs' effectiveness in KT. A range of research designs were included to capture the diversity of KB roles and activities.

Created by the research team in collaboration with health librarians, ensuring comprehensive coverage of relevant databases until November 2014.

Must include reports of practical applications in health-related settings, exclude theoretical assumptions, and available in English.

Two reviewers independently screened records for eligibility, resolving disagreements through discussion.

Meta Quality Appraisal Tool (MetaQAT): A rigorous framework for appraising the quality of evidence across designs, assessing relevancy, validity, reliability, and applicability.

Confirmatory Thematic Analysis: Utilized NVivo software to analyze extracted data based on predefined domains from literature.
Assessment of Effectiveness: Measured evidence of changes in knowledge, skills, and policies as a result of KB efforts.

Diverse Activities: KBs performed diverse tasks across knowledge management, linkage, and capacity building, demonstrating overlapping roles.
Ten Main Activities of KBs:
- Identify and connect stakeholders
- Facilitate collaboration
- Obtain relevant information
- Support analytic and interpretive skills development
- Create tailored knowledge products
- Coordinate projects
- Support sharing and communication
- Maintain and develop networks
- Evaluate change
- Support sustainability initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement: Identify relevant stakeholders, facilitate goal alignment, and maintain presence through various forms of communication.
Collaboration Facilitation: Organize forums, workshops, and facilitate discussions to promote group consensus and teamwork.
Information Identification: Conduct scans to identify local needs and assist in defining and developing research questions.

Explored changes in knowledge, skills, and practice; outcomes suggest KB effectiveness remains inconclusive due to limited methodological quality.

Various studies indicated increases in stakeholders’ understanding of best practices and research utilization in decision-making.
One study reflected significant improvements in clinical assessments as a result of KB efforts, suggesting potential effectiveness.

Limited evidence challenges the effectiveness conclusions of KBs; call for further high-quality studies that include measurable outcomes and methodological rigor.

KBs play a crucial role in KT, yet conclusive evidence of their effectiveness is limited. Further rigorous research is essential to establish their impact in health-related contexts, emphasizing the need for clear outcome reporting in future studies.

The review referenced various studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical frameworks exploring knowledge translation, evidence-based practices, and knowledge brokering roles across diverse health settings.