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Abstract
Background: Advocating for evidence is a core approach for Cochrane Strategy 2020. The South African Cochrane Centre (SACC) aims to increase awareness of relevant Cochrane HIV/AIDS Reviews. The Cochrane Library may be difficult for consumers to access due to limited internet availability, and navigating between reviews is time-consuming.
Objectives: To promote the use of Cochrane evidence by producing a booklet of plain language summaries for the prevention, testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and disseminating it in the African region.
Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library to identify all HIV/AIDS reviews published between 2010 and 2014. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV as a guide to categorize the interventions. The booklet was produced in print and electronic format (available on the SACC website). The electronic version was disseminated to SACC contacts on and around World AIDS Day 2014 and is ongoing. Stakeholders were informed that printed copies were available.
Results: Our search of the Cochrane Library retrieved 58 HIV reviews (14 on prevention; seven on testing and counselling; 30 on treatment including adherence; three on nutritional support; and four on health services and care). As part of our promotion strategy we initially emailed the booklet to 1462 SACC contacts on World AIDS Day 2014 and it was included on the Cochrane Library website. Our stakeholders included provincial government HIV/AIDS departments, the National AIDS Council, non-governmental and AIDS treatment and activist groups, and practitioners and researchers specialising in HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Over 50 printed copies have been requested.
Feedback received included: “I think it is a great idea for the SACC to do this” and “Thank you so much for this valuable publication.”
Conclusions: Producing and disseminating a booklet of plain language summaries for a specific disease is a potentially useful method for promoting the use of Cochrane evidence.
Objectives: To promote the use of Cochrane evidence by producing a booklet of plain language summaries for the prevention, testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and disseminating it in the African region.
Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library to identify all HIV/AIDS reviews published between 2010 and 2014. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV as a guide to categorize the interventions. The booklet was produced in print and electronic format (available on the SACC website). The electronic version was disseminated to SACC contacts on and around World AIDS Day 2014 and is ongoing. Stakeholders were informed that printed copies were available.
Results: Our search of the Cochrane Library retrieved 58 HIV reviews (14 on prevention; seven on testing and counselling; 30 on treatment including adherence; three on nutritional support; and four on health services and care). As part of our promotion strategy we initially emailed the booklet to 1462 SACC contacts on World AIDS Day 2014 and it was included on the Cochrane Library website. Our stakeholders included provincial government HIV/AIDS departments, the National AIDS Council, non-governmental and AIDS treatment and activist groups, and practitioners and researchers specialising in HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Over 50 printed copies have been requested.
Feedback received included: “I think it is a great idea for the SACC to do this” and “Thank you so much for this valuable publication.”
Conclusions: Producing and disseminating a booklet of plain language summaries for a specific disease is a potentially useful method for promoting the use of Cochrane evidence.