Capacity building in systematic reviews in South Asia: a South-North collaboration to expand the production and translation of synthesized evidence

Oral

2011 Madrid

Koehlmoos T¹, PIgott T², Thomson H³, Ueffing E⁴, McGowan J⁵, Gazi R⁶, Hossain S⁶, Snilstveit B⁷, Howard G⁸

¹Health & Family Planning Systems Programme, ICDDR,B, Bangladesh

²School of Education. Loyola University Chicago, USA

³Medical Research Council, Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, UK

⁴Campbell and Cochrane Equity Methods Group, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Canada

⁵Centre for Global Health, Departments of Medicine and Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada

⁶Health Systems & Infectious Diseases Division, ICDDR,B, Bangladesh

⁷International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), UK

⁸South Asia Research Hub, Department for International Development, India

Background:

A substantial body of evidence exists to answer many of the questions asked by policymakers and development partners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, evidence is often scattered, inaccessible and rarely presented in a form that provides an indication of the quality of evidence. Systematic reviews in all sectors have the potential to contribute to improving the evidence base from which policies and interventions can be developed and implemented. The principles that underpin the international effort to prepare and use systematic reviews of controlled trials for evaluating clinical practice, particularly in high income countries, can be similarly applied to the challenges of poverty reduction and development in LMICs.

Objectives:

To support researchers in South Asia through the provision of capacity building in systematic review techniques using training, workshops, online training and support, and quality assurance.

Methods:

Health & Family Planning Systems Programme (ICDDR,B) in collaboration with the Campbell Collaboration, the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit of the Medical Research Council UK (SPHSU MRC), the Campbell & Cochrane Equity Methods Group and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) using funding from the Department for International Development (UK) will develop and deliver i) a programme of systematic review training in South Asia, ii) guidelines for development partners on formulating review questions, and iii) systems of remote partnership, networking and support to regional review teams.

Results:

The courses are being developed with a first run in June 2011. This section will be updated with details of participants, their feedback and any successful assistance/review protocols in October 2011. Success of the project will be measured by the number of regional review teams who receive support and bring in funding and/or complete reviews.

Conclusions:

LMIC-based researchers will be equipped to undertake systematic reviews to help inform decision making in different sectors of development.