Knowledge management in the care for people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

The study aimed to gain insight into knowledge management in the intellectual dis-abilities (ID) care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored and describedhow knowledge producers, intermediaries, and knowledge users experienced knowl-edge management during this crisis situation, the responses to the specific knowl-edge needs in the ID-care sector, and changes in roles and collaboration during thisperiod. Twenty-five individual in-depth semi-structured interviews were conductedwith knowledge producers, intermediaries, and knowledge users in the Dutch ID-caresector. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted. Three key themes were identi-fied: (1) knowledge needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) experiences withknowledge management, and (3) roles and collaboration in knowledge management.There was an urgent need for specific ID-related knowledge and how to translateavailable evidence for the general population into ID-care settings. In knowledgemanagement, the focus was on knowledge production and exchange, with validationand application receiving less attention. Within stakeholder groups, collaboration andknowledge exchange were intensified by existing or new knowledge infrastructures.Between stakeholder groups, knowledge producers and users created short lines toexchange needs and produce knowledge. This paper provides unique insights intoknowledge management in the Dutch ID-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.Implications are discussed to improve future knowledge management processes. Sup-port with knowledge validation and local knowledge infrastructures (complementaryto centralized national knowledge infrastructures) help to assess the reliability andusefulness of knowledge and improve its use in practice during future pandemic-related crisis situations.