Simmons, Rachel (2015). Community Knowledge Mobilization and the Community Readiness Model Tool: A case study of diabetes in selected First Nations Communities in Canada. McGill Family Medicine Studies Online, 10: e02.6

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Background Chronic disease, such as type 2 diabetes, is a large concern for public health within developed nations, especially in First Nations communities, where rates are much higher than in non-Aboriginal populations. Successful interventions are always well tailored to their context, and participatory rural appraisal methods aid in this process of adaptation. Community readiness assessment is one example of how knowledge about the community landscape and context is created and mobilized for action. Despite the accessibility of this knowledge, there has been a large hurdle in implementing successful and sustainable programs and activities at the community level. Knowledge mobilization and knowledge translation strategies have the potential to in-crease mobilization within communities for prevention activities.

Objective To better understand the role of a research-developed tool for knowledge mobilization processes in First Nations communities. Of special interest is how the adapted Community Readiness Model (CRM) tool creates knowledge that can then be translated to action from the perspective of lay First Nations community members.

Methods Qualitative descriptive study based of focus group discussion.Participants Community members from 6 First Nations communities recruited within Wave 1 of the FORGE-AHEAD research program.

Results Participants discussed the usefulness of the CRM tool around the following themes: key informants, community context, leadership, structure and organization of the tool, and mobilization using the Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework.

Conclusion Interpreting mobilization through the lens of the KTA cycle as a programming model highlighted the value of the CRM tool to the community, through providing knowledge about the community context, and acting as a catalyst for forward momentum down their mobilization paths. With a few adaptations to better suit a First Nations community context, CRM tool would make an excellent contribution to the Participatory Rural Appraisal toolkit.