Article type
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Abstract
Background: The improvement of population diets and reduction of obesity using a national nutrition policy requires evidence for the policy that is both relevant and trustworthy. This presentation describes methodology embedded within a scoping project.
Objective: We sought to inform the development of a National Nutrition Policy through the application and adaption of Cochrane Systematic Review methodology in a transparent and reproducible manner in a systematic synthesis that combined Australia’s current national dietary health issues with evidence from international policies.
Method: Firstly we identified the diet-related health issues relevant to Australia (the target country). Secondly we sought the strategic content of existing policies of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED) countries and identified the most cost-effective strategies. Thirdly we synthesised recommendations through contextualisation of the evidence. We also embedded the use of Cochrane methodology. This systematic approach included structured PICO-T (poplulation, intervention, comparison, outcome, time) questions for all key primary questions, which then formed the structure of the search strategy. We developed data extraction tools by creating 'scaffolding' mapped from the PICO –T questions to each element of the questions using a predefined process. We applied a seven-step over-arching process using PRISMA transparent search accounting, screening tools, standard quality assessment, and data extraction. Each PICO question was then restated in ‘plain language’.
Results: The application of a systematic review approach provided a methodological framework for the project. The use of PICO-T questions a priori provided a useful framework, avoided risk of bias associated with post hoc questions, and also provided a standard format which aided in the operation, analysis and report writing.
Conclusions: Although potentially more time consuming at the onset, this approach offered greater transparency and reproducibility for the recommendations. Systematic review methodology can be potentially extended and adapted for scoping national policy development.
Objective: We sought to inform the development of a National Nutrition Policy through the application and adaption of Cochrane Systematic Review methodology in a transparent and reproducible manner in a systematic synthesis that combined Australia’s current national dietary health issues with evidence from international policies.
Method: Firstly we identified the diet-related health issues relevant to Australia (the target country). Secondly we sought the strategic content of existing policies of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED) countries and identified the most cost-effective strategies. Thirdly we synthesised recommendations through contextualisation of the evidence. We also embedded the use of Cochrane methodology. This systematic approach included structured PICO-T (poplulation, intervention, comparison, outcome, time) questions for all key primary questions, which then formed the structure of the search strategy. We developed data extraction tools by creating 'scaffolding' mapped from the PICO –T questions to each element of the questions using a predefined process. We applied a seven-step over-arching process using PRISMA transparent search accounting, screening tools, standard quality assessment, and data extraction. Each PICO question was then restated in ‘plain language’.
Results: The application of a systematic review approach provided a methodological framework for the project. The use of PICO-T questions a priori provided a useful framework, avoided risk of bias associated with post hoc questions, and also provided a standard format which aided in the operation, analysis and report writing.
Conclusions: Although potentially more time consuming at the onset, this approach offered greater transparency and reproducibility for the recommendations. Systematic review methodology can be potentially extended and adapted for scoping national policy development.