Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Part of the mission of the Canadian Cochrane Centre is to foster evidence-based decision making among consumers, clinicians and policy makers, and to support authors through education and training. A specific capacity training project was undertaken with dedicated funds for one year to expand the Centre's education and training activities across Canada.
Objectives: The project was designed to raise awareness of evidence-based decision making, increase the number of systematic review authors and trainers, promote the use of evidence by clinicians and policy makers, and evaluate the workshops offered and assess interest in distance learning.
Methods: Funding was received from the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA). Consultation was conducted with Cochrane contributors and stakeholder groups to establish training needs. Eleven workshops were conducted; introductory workshops for newcomers to Cochrane, training workshops for review authors, and workshops on the utilization of evidence for healthcare decision-makers, and consumer groups. Feedback from participants was obtained after most workshops. Finally, a 'Train the Trainer' workshop (TTTW) was conducted, to bring Canadian trainers together to share experiences, build networks and plan for the future.
Results: Approximately 290 people attended an introductory, author training or utilization workshop. Eight new trainers were recruited. There are increasing numbers of individuals on waiting lists for training workshops and requests from external groups for workshops in both French and English. Feedback from participants has been positive. Future goals include working with stakeholder organizations, increasing interactivity in workshops, and sharing standardized training materials. Most participants preferred in-person training, but opportunities to increase on-line alternatives will be explored. The need for training and support to assist authors with completing and updating reviews was identified, and the need to provide more formal training for trainers.
Conclusions: The project successfully increased the capacity to conduct and use systematic reviews in Canada, and laid the groundwork for a sustainable program of education and training activities in the future. There is a demand for the training and the funding ensured that the training was available and people who are charged with the mandate had the resources to provide the training.
Objectives: The project was designed to raise awareness of evidence-based decision making, increase the number of systematic review authors and trainers, promote the use of evidence by clinicians and policy makers, and evaluate the workshops offered and assess interest in distance learning.
Methods: Funding was received from the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA). Consultation was conducted with Cochrane contributors and stakeholder groups to establish training needs. Eleven workshops were conducted; introductory workshops for newcomers to Cochrane, training workshops for review authors, and workshops on the utilization of evidence for healthcare decision-makers, and consumer groups. Feedback from participants was obtained after most workshops. Finally, a 'Train the Trainer' workshop (TTTW) was conducted, to bring Canadian trainers together to share experiences, build networks and plan for the future.
Results: Approximately 290 people attended an introductory, author training or utilization workshop. Eight new trainers were recruited. There are increasing numbers of individuals on waiting lists for training workshops and requests from external groups for workshops in both French and English. Feedback from participants has been positive. Future goals include working with stakeholder organizations, increasing interactivity in workshops, and sharing standardized training materials. Most participants preferred in-person training, but opportunities to increase on-line alternatives will be explored. The need for training and support to assist authors with completing and updating reviews was identified, and the need to provide more formal training for trainers.
Conclusions: The project successfully increased the capacity to conduct and use systematic reviews in Canada, and laid the groundwork for a sustainable program of education and training activities in the future. There is a demand for the training and the funding ensured that the training was available and people who are charged with the mandate had the resources to provide the training.