Objective:
We will describe the purpose, production, distribution, and enthusiastic uptake of PEARLS (Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations)
Description:
Format of workshop
- we present what we do, why and how
- hand out examples of PEARLS
- discussion focussed on questions and interests of audience
Principles
- minimalist summaries, not over 200 words
- structured
- based on new Cochrane reviews
- answer in the title
- one treatment for one condition, not a guideline
- target audience is expected to know enough about the area to be able to use clinical judgement
Process
- one of us chooses a topic they think would be of interest
- one person prepares summary
- "peer-reviewed" amongst our team
- Outside review sought if special issues arise (such as safety)
- current production 2 per week
- total output so far over 50
Positives
- enthusiastic feedback as short, easily digestible, relevant to practice
- still people signing up
- it works and its manageable
Distribution
- 1200 on English mail base, 200 on Spanish mail base
- grey literature in New Zealand, The Netherlands
- current interest from journals and grey literature in the United States, Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany and France
- on the Primary Health Care Field website
- get distributed with our names in the hope is that these will add credibility
Issues we are considering
- need care when there is potential for harm from missing essential information, or from the intervention itself
- perhaps include patient numbers from the reviewed studies