Health priority research questions based on evidence in Brazil: implementation and maintenance of free access web site for researchers, academics, health professionals and consumers

Article type
Authors
Melnik T1, Puga M1
1Brazilian Cochrane Center, Brasil
Abstract
Background: More often than not, the research agendas in lowand middle-income countries are seen to be driven by researcher interests and funding sources, with too often little or no serious relationship with prevailing health priority concerns. This is particularly so because high-priority research questions do not necessarily arise from the concerns of evidence based medicine principles.

Objectives: implement and maintain a web site with free access for researchers, academics, health professionals and consumers with health priority questions based on evidence organized by specialty.

Methods: This project will be part of a larger objective to identify priority research questions in health in Brazil and will be carried out in the public and private sectors, covering key experts in health, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private health facilities, public and private provider associations, as well as researchers and consumers in Brazil. Data from key experts will be collected using qualitative and quantitative methods; a set of tools with each tailored to the roles and responsibilities of the selected informants will be use as guides during the interview. Additionally, a comprehensive summarize of ‘implications of research’ section of a Cochrane SR will be organize by specialty area and a construct of this questions in a list of PICO format will be carry out by researchers familiar with Cochrane SR methodology.

Results and Conclusions: The conclusions of SR are often limited by low methodological quality of included trials and the absence of key comparisons for clinical use, an additional work is necessary to help researchers in development their research agenda based on recommendations of Cochrane SR and in this way feeding Cochrane SR with primary RCTs for been more conclusive. Helping researchers to identify under-researched areas is an important product of Cochrane SR.