An effort of evidence-based medicine in Brazil to provide the best healthcare evidence for the community of Portuguese-speaking countries

Article type
Authors
El Dib R1, Betini M2, Aniceto M3, Parracho Costa J4, Vaz Carneiro A4
1Institute of Science and Technology, Unesp—Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos Campos, Brazil
2Health Sciences Library. Botucatu Medical School, Unesp – Univ Estadual Paulista, São Paulo
3Botucatu medical School, Unesp—Univ Estadual Paulista, São Paulo
4Cochrane Portugal
Abstract
Background: In January 2014, Cochrane adopted a strategy of translations with the aim of increasing the ability to translate the contents of systematic reviews from English to other languages. To achieve this goal, Cochrane has been collaborating with affiliated groups in different countries on translation activities. One of these groups was the Evidence-Based Medicine Unit of the Botucatu Medical School (FMB), UNESP, Brazil, registered in the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Objectives: To make available in the Portuguese language the best healthcare evidence (i.e. Cochrane systematic reviews). The specific objectives were: i) to cover the largest number of volunteers fluent in Portuguese willing to translate the abstracts and plain-language summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews from English to Portuguese; ii) to translate the maximum amount of evidence published by Cochrane; iii) to present the operationalisation of a knowledge platform scheme in Portuguese.

Methods: This was an operational research study. We consider as inclusion criteria the following: a) any health professionals willing to voluntarily participate in this project; b) Portuguese being the official language, regardless whether the collaborator lives in Portuguese- or non-Portuguese speaking countries; c) ability to write in English according to the participant's self-report. The dissemination of this project for the participation of the volunteers occurred during undergraduate, residency and postgraduate courses at the FMB/UNESP; contact with researchers from other universities and research centres; referral through Cochrane Central Executive; and through a specific course entitled 'How to read and understand Cochrane reviews' for graduate programmes at the FMB/UNESP. We used Smartling, a translation software used by Cochrane, with the purpose of facilitating the administration and implementation of the translations.

Results and conclusions: Results from this project will be presented during the Summit and analytic issues will be discussed.