Partnerships take centre stage on World Evidence-Based Health Care Day this October 20

Cochrane Australia and the National Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce have much to celebrate on World Evidence-Based Health Care Day later this month. Held on 20 October, the annual global event highlights the need for better evidence to inform health care, and recognises the efforts of hard-working researchers, policymakers, clinicians and health workers everywhere.

This year’s theme focuses on partnerships and the many ways widespread collaboration can bridge research, policy and practice to realise the potential of evidence-based health care. The National COVID-19 Taskforce is both a practical and inspiring example of how this can be done.

‘When Covid first arrived on our shores, we knew next to nothing about the virus or how to treat it,’ says Taskforce Director Tari Turner. 'It goes without saying that it was an incredibly stressful time for everyone, especially clinicians. The many partnerships Cochrane Australia forged to create the Taskforce in those early days ensured that all health workers soon had access to a single source of trusted, up-to-date, evidence-based living Covid guidelines.’
 

Engaging consumers from diverse backgrounds in guideline development: lessons from research & real world settings

Translating research into practice is often easier said than done, and can take years. Not so in the case of the latest findings on consumer engagement in guideline development.

Researcher Dr Annie Synnot co-authored a scoping review on broadening the diversity of consumers engaged in guidelines in BMJ Open earlier this year. She was then quick off the mark to test the findings in a real world setting, as Methods Chair of the National Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Consumer Panel.

COCHRANE NEWS & REVIEWS

The Future of Evidence Synthesis change program: a snapshot of Cochrane's new production model

Earlier this year Cochrane’s Governing Board approved a new model for producing Cochrane Evidence Syntheses. The model was designed through a process of community consultation, and aims to ensure Cochrane remains viable, sustainable, and focused on major global health challenges now and into the future.

Cochrane’s organizational structure is set to be transformed over a step-wise three to five year change program. Moving away from the longstanding structure of 52 review groups, 24 satellites, fields, methods and consumer groups, the new streamlined structure will consist of:

• Evidence Synthesis Units (ESUs)
  ESUs will be focused on capacity strengthening and delivering timely evidence syntheses relevant to local and regional contexts linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
   
• Thematic groups
  The concept of Thematic Groups was developed at a grass roots level by the Cochrane community. Focused on retaining content and methods expertise throughout the transition process, up to 20 Thematic Groups will be established that map to key global challenges. 
  
  The first round of applications to establish a Cochrane Thematic Group closed in early August. Eight applications are now under consideration and the first round of new Thematic Groups will be announced later this month.
   
• Central Editorial Service:
  The complete separation of evidence synthesis development from the editorial process is critical to the new model, so from late 2023 the editorial process for all Cochrane evidence syntheses will be managed through the Central Editorial Service. Thematic Groups will work together with ESUs to develop evidence synthesis that will be submitted to a Central Editorial Service, to guarantee independence, quality assurance and integrity.

Cochrane Methods and Consumer Groups have an ongoing role in the new model. Review Groups, Fields and Geographic Groups with stable funding are continuing to operate throughout the transition period, and will have time over the next 3-5 years to consider if, when and how they'll evolve as part of the new model. Some groups may become 'early adopters' through the Thematic Group pilots or potentially explore the option of setting up a Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Unit in their region. 

To find out more detail about the new model and change program timelines:

• visit the Future of Evidence Synthesis web page, and keep an eye out for a new dedicated ‘Future Cochrane’ website launching in late October.

• join the Future Cochrane webinar series or catch up on past webinar presentations on implementation, innovation and community engagement. 

• explore answers to common questions or submit your own on the Community FAQs page.

• A newly updated Cochrane Public Health review weighs up the evidence on the implementation of school-based policies and practices to improve student health. This visual snapshot summarises the key findings, and you can access the full review in the Cochrane Library.

• Cochrane Public Health also published a new review low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) – products with less sodium than regular salt - and the role they might play in lowering blood pressure.

E V E N T S 

Registration is now open for the 10th NHMRC Research Translation Symposium and details of the program, including plenary sessions, speakers and a range of local satellite events, are now available. There's no fee to register, but spaces are limited so it's advisable to get in early!

The theme this year is 'Embracing Diversity', and the intention is to encourage the translation of research that improves equity and respects the health and health care decision making needs of people of different cultures, ethnic groups, socio-economic groups, abilities or ages. It includes (but is not limited to):

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• people who live in rural and remote areas
• culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
• people living with disability.

The Symposium is a hybrid event, and features a combination of keynote/plenary, abstract and panel sessions, with face-to-face elements to enable local/ regional in-person networking. 

T R A I N I N G