Working with knowledge users to improve evidence-based medicine prescribing and use: key informant interviews and the process of developing an international training collaboration

2013 Québec City

Helis E¹, Colquhoun H¹, Mayhew A², Lowe D³, Taylor M⁴, Hill S⁵, Belanger D⁶, Worswick J⁷, Grimshaw JM⁸

¹Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada

²Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) Review Group, Canada

³Centre for Health Communication and Participation, La Trobe University, Australia

⁴Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing, La Trobe University, Australia

⁵Centre for Health Communication and Participation, La Trobe University and Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group, Australia

⁶Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, Canada

⁷Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Review Group , Canada

⁸Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cochrane Canada, Canada

Background:

Health systems globally are interested in promoting appropriate prescribing by health care providers and use of medicines by consumers. Currently, interventions that improve prescribing are underutilized and related evidence is not readily accessible. Rx for Change is a publicly available, Cochrane-supported, online database that provides quick access to systematic reviews regarding best practices for prescribing and using medicines (www.rxforchange.ca). Despite an on-line tutorial to maximize use, uptake of Rx for Change has been suboptimal. Providing database training that includes knowledge user (KU) input may facilitate the uptake of evidence among health care providers, policy makers and consumers.

Objectives:

To describe the development of a collaborative, international training program using feedback from two KUs in Canada (provider-based organizations) and two KUs in Australia (consumer-based organizations).

Methods:

The training development and evaluation is guided by the CIHR Knowledge-to-Action framework. The process consists of four stages: (1) interviews with key informants in each organization; (2) development of training; (3) implementation and evaluation; (4) application to future training programs. This presentation will describe results of the first two stages.The teams in Canada and Australia will meet with two to four volunteers within each organization. The interviews will include short answer questions and a hypothetical exercise to observe engagement with Rx for Change. Results and local data from each organization will be used to develop training.

Results:

Results of key informant interviews and how they were used to guide the development of a training module for Rx for Change will be presented. Issues specific to consumer versus provider organizations and challenges related to working with KUs will be described.

Conclusions:

Engaging KUs in shaping the content of training may improve database awareness and uptake of evidence on interventions aimed at improving medicine prescribing and use.