Background: Cochrane reviews should reflect the evidence needs of its intended audience. It is also important that relevance and usefulness are directed to the needs of those who experience the greatest burden of poor health. With regard to indigenous populations there are major limitations to the current systematic review evidence base, including the predominance of included studies from developed countries, including reviews on subjects of fundamental public health importance for indigenous settings, for example, housing. Systematic reviews have also tended to neglect consideration of contextual factors that might influence appropriateness and effectiveness of interventions. These considerations are especially important for health promotion and public health interventions, and are a significant limitation in understanding the applicability of systematic reviews to indigenous populations.

Objectives: This poster will outline a priority-setting exercise, collaboration between the Cochrane Health Promotion and Public Health Field (HPPH), the Menzies School of Health Research and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, which aims to scope the existing health promotion and public health review topics relevant to the public health needs of indigenous people.

Methods: With the assistance of an international taskforce of indigenous researchers and experienced researchers working in indigenous health in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and North America, the project team aims to develop a recommended set of prioritised review topics addressing the identified gaps in the existing review literature. A strategy for leveraging funding and potential reviewers to undertake these prioritised reviews will be developed, with the support of the HPPH Field.
Results: Outcomes of this project will be outlined in the poster.