Barriers and methods to improve the use of Cochrane systematic reviews as a primary source of evidence in developing countries

Tags: Poster
Gudala K1, Bansal D1, Kanukula R2
1Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group, India, 2M Pharm student, Department of Pharmacy Practice, India

Background:

Although Cochrane systematic reviews (CSR) are considered to be the best level of evidence, there are several barriers to using CSRs, especially in developing countries. No research has yet explored these barriers or methods to improve the use of CSRs.

Objectives:

We aim to explore and assess the barriers faced by healthcare professional/researcher accessing CSRs as primary evidence and to understand ways of improving the usage of CSRs in developing nations.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey using a well structured questionnaire about the barriers and methods for improving the usage of CSRs. We mailed the online questionnaire to 2000 Cochrane authors of developing countries (according to World Bank 2013). The replies of the survey were recorded and qualitative analysis was done.

Results:

From the 258 respondents, 87% used CSRs as a primary source of evidence in decision-making and they agreed that CSRs affect the implementation of their decisions. When asked to report the barriers to using CSRs, 32% of respondents felt difficulty in accessing them. When asked for reasons 65% of authors believed that the lack of a National/Organizational license to CSRs is the reason for difficulty in accessing them; 23% had insufficient knowledge about systematic reviews and 12% felt that CSRs are time consuming for decision making. About 13% of respondents felt that the scientific language used in CSRs was difficult to understand and plan accordingly for decision making; 38% of authors suggested that complete review along with experts comments and content specific information may avoid the difficulty in reading and applying CSRs. Authors made some recommendations to improve usage of CSRs, that included updated information in the form of newsletters (27%), providing a free national license (17%), conducting regional workshops on usage of CSRs (15%), and increasing the Cochrane satellite/regional centres in developing countries (13%).

Conclusions:

We hope that the findings of this survey will help Cochrane to improve the accessibility of CSRs and will ultimately result in increased use of accurate updated information.