The use of tacit and explicit knowledge in public health: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Planning a public health initiative is both a science and an art. Public health practitioners work in a complex, often time-constrained environment, where formal research literature can be unavailable or uncertain. Consequently, public health practitioners often draw upon other forms of knowledge.

Methods

Through use of one-on-one interviews and focus groups, we aimed to gain a better understanding of how tacit knowledge is used to inform program initiatives in public health. This study was designed as a narrative inquiry, which is based on the assumption that we make sense of the world by telling stories. Four public health units were purposively selected for maximum variation, based on geography and academic affiliation.

Results

Analysis revealed differen

SUBMITTER: Kothari A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3325865 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature