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 center for evidence-based child health. This center conducted workshops and short courses to inform healthcare providers and researchers about the principles of systematic reviews (SRs).
Objectives:To build capacity, conduct SRs and promote practise and training of evidence-based health care in children.
Methods: Twelve short courses on 'How to practise evidence-based child health', six short courses on 'How to teach evidence-based medicine' and nine workshops on 'Protocol development' were conducted in Chandigarh and two satellite centers, two 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 the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health. We conducted pre-testing and post-testing with similar questions 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 randomized controlled trials, diagnostic test accuracy and conduct of SRs.
Results: Six-hundred and fifty participants from different parts of India were educated and introduced to Cochrane and SRs. 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 contributions to Cochrane and SRs. There is a growing need to continue to train individuals and develop programmes to support the use of evidence for policy making and clinical practice in India.
Objectives:To build capacity, conduct SRs and promote practise and training of evidence-based health care in children.
Methods: Twelve short courses on 'How to practise evidence-based child health', six short courses on 'How to teach evidence-based medicine' and nine workshops on 'Protocol development' were conducted in Chandigarh and two satellite centers, two 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 the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health. We conducted pre-testing and post-testing with similar questions 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 randomized controlled trials, diagnostic test accuracy and conduct of SRs.
Results: Six-hundred and fifty participants from different parts of India were educated and introduced to Cochrane and SRs. 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 contributions to Cochrane and SRs. There is a growing need to continue to train individuals and develop programmes to support the use of evidence for policy making and clinical practice in India.