The dynamics of knowledge transfer in health: an overview of the last 10 years

Promoting knowledge management in organisational relationships is one of the most complex challenges for managers, requiring resources and efforts to develop routines that foster interaction. In the healthcare sector, this task is even more challenging due to the complexity of infrastructures, technologies, supplies, and personnel allocation. This article analyses how knowledge transfer is characterised in interorganisational relationships in healthcare, using a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA protocol. A total of 32 publications in prestigious journals were analysed through thematic and bibliometric analysis. The results indicate a high interest in the topic, with significant contributions from authors in the USA, UK, and Europe. Knowledge transfer through networks and partnerships gained prominence, especially during COVID-19, encompassing public and private sectors, governmental agencies, and academic institutions. The challenges in interorganisational knowledge transfer in the healthcare sector can threaten the sustainability of partnerships. The analysis revealed positive outcomes in six main dimensions: health promotion, expansion of access to services, improvement of care quality, optimisation of health management, support for evidence-based policymaking, and development of new technologies. Despite the positive outcomes, the process is complex and requires collaborative efforts to achieve the desired results.