Creative knowledge translation to support BCC’s Personalized OncoGenomics Program

Co-lead:

  • Marco Marra
    BC Cancer
Team members:

  • Jessica Nelson
    Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre
  • Lindsay Zibrik
    BC Cancer – Vancouver
  • Kirstin Brown
    Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre
  • Kevin Sauve
    Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre

The Personalized Oncogenomics (POG) program at BCC is a patient-driven clinical research project which uses genome sequencing to inform cancer treatment and care. Delivery of the POG program involves a diverse group of stakeholders, all with varying health literacy levels. To close the literacy gap, POG must explore new knowledge translation channels to improve health literacy and education.

Knowledge translation is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice. Best practices recommend the use of lay language and to present material in popular, engaging and creative formats such as video and online content to reach and engage a large audience. Research suggests one of the most effective methods is through animated videos (Meppelink et al., 2015; George et al., 2013).

The goal for this project is to develop a short, patient- and public-focused animated video about the POG program and to showcase the video to our knowledge users  in a web-based format. Outcomes include improved awareness about the POG program, improved health literacy for patients considering POG or healthcare professionals new to POG, and improved understanding of how POG supports and enhances patient care in BC.

Award Update: March 2022

The POG Knowledge Translation working group produced an animated video that explains cancer, genomics, and precision medicine using vocabulary and engaging graphics (in six languages) suitable for many audiences, from experts to those with no knowledge of the science.

Learn more on Genome Sciences Centre’s website.