Assessing knowledge transfer and exchange in occupational health: A case study using mental models

We propose to study factors that affect the transmission of occupational health risk research messages, and the application of transmitted knowledge into risk management actions in an ongoing study of one occupational setting: industrial machine shops. Participants will include workers and managers associated with this study of risk factors for lung disease among machinists, as well as scientific experts in the field. We will develop and compare two ¿mental models¿ of risk information transmission and application processes: a ¿scientist¿ model and ¿worker/manager¿ model, using indepth interviews with participants from each group. Comparisons between the scientist and worker/manager models will allow us to describe and examine points of agreement and discordance between scientists and practitioners related to their understandings of messages based on occupational health research and their perceptions of key factors that contribute to or impede the implementation of research knowledge. The insights gained in this setting will be used in future research to develop and test strategies to promote more effective knowledge transfer and exchange within workplaces, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that occupational risk management actions are informed by research findings.