Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
There is a growing need for evidence to inform policy and practice in India. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi established an Advanced Centre for Evidence-Based Child Health. This Centre conducted workshops and short courses to inform healthcare providers and researchers about the principles of systematic reviews (SRs).
Objectives:
To build capacity, conduct systematic reviews and promote practice and training of evidence-based health care in children.
Methods:
Twelve short courses on “How to practice evidence-based child health” and six workshops on “Protocol development” were conducted in Chandigarh and two satellite centers, one each in north and north east India, by the tutors from the ICMR Advanced Centre for Evidence-Based Child Health. We followed the module developed by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Pre-tests and post-tests with similar questions were conducted during each course to evaluate the knowledge of evidence-based child health. Short courses included lectures followed by small group interactive sessions on critical appraisal of randomised controlled trials, diagnostic test accuracy and conduct of systematic reviews.
Results:
Four-hundred-and-fifty participants from different parts of India were educated and sensitised to the Cochrane Collaboration and systematic reviews. More than half of the participants were not aware of Cochrane and SRs before the course. More than 50% indicated interest in further training in SRs. Most participants preferred small group interactive sessions. There was a significant increase in post-test marks compared to pre-test.
Conclusions:
Capacity building workshops and short courses in India are avenues for increasing awareness and contribution to Cochrane and systematic reviews. There is a growing need to continue to train individuals and develop programmes to support use of evidence for policy making and clinical practice in India.
There is a growing need for evidence to inform policy and practice in India. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi established an Advanced Centre for Evidence-Based Child Health. This Centre conducted workshops and short courses to inform healthcare providers and researchers about the principles of systematic reviews (SRs).
Objectives:
To build capacity, conduct systematic reviews and promote practice and training of evidence-based health care in children.
Methods:
Twelve short courses on “How to practice evidence-based child health” and six workshops on “Protocol development” were conducted in Chandigarh and two satellite centers, one each in north and north east India, by the tutors from the ICMR Advanced Centre for Evidence-Based Child Health. We followed the module developed by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Pre-tests and post-tests with similar questions were conducted during each course to evaluate the knowledge of evidence-based child health. Short courses included lectures followed by small group interactive sessions on critical appraisal of randomised controlled trials, diagnostic test accuracy and conduct of systematic reviews.
Results:
Four-hundred-and-fifty participants from different parts of India were educated and sensitised to the Cochrane Collaboration and systematic reviews. More than half of the participants were not aware of Cochrane and SRs before the course. More than 50% indicated interest in further training in SRs. Most participants preferred small group interactive sessions. There was a significant increase in post-test marks compared to pre-test.
Conclusions:
Capacity building workshops and short courses in India are avenues for increasing awareness and contribution to Cochrane and systematic reviews. There is a growing need to continue to train individuals and develop programmes to support use of evidence for policy making and clinical practice in India.