Background: In the English National Health Service (NHS), Primary Care Trusts are responsible for commissioning a range of health services. As part of a major five-year research project, we are providing a knowledge translation service to local decision makers, translating existing evidence into actionable messages that they can use to inform local commissioning questions. We recently evaluated the evidence base for inpatient admission for adolescents with eating disorders compared with other models of service provision to support a possible reorganisation of services. Methods: In response to a commissioning request, a researcher attended a meeting with commissioners and clinicians to clarify the research question. A concise evidence briefing was prepared using existing sources of synthesised and quality-assessed evidence. The main sources were the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the DARE, NHS EED and HTA databases and systematic reviews performed to inform the NICE guidance on eating disorders. Evidence was contextualised to the local setting and comments from commissioners were incorporated before the briefing was circulated and then discussed at a second meeting. Results: A Cochrane review of alternatives to admission for young people with mental health problems found limited evidence to guide decision-making.1 One randomised trial compared inpatient admission with specialist outpatient treatment and treatment as usual in the community for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.2 The trial found no differences in outcomes between groups. Specialist outpatient provisionwas themost cost-effective option. The group agreed to move towards providing more services on an outpatient basis and limiting the use of inpatient placements. The briefing document has been used to inform strategic commissioning at a regional level. Evaluation of the format and content of the briefing is in progress. Conclusions: Evidence briefings based on systematic reviews can be useful for healthcare decision-makers and warrant further methodological development and evaluation.
1. Shepperd S, Doll H, Gowers S, James A, Fazel M, Fitzpatrick R, et al. Alternatives to inpatient mental health care for children and young people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009:CD006410.
2. Gowers SG, Clark A, Roberts C, Griffiths A, Edwards V, Bryan C, et al. Clinical effectiveness of treatments for anorexia nervosa in adolescents: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2007;191:427 35.