Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: malnutrition, in all its forms, affects every country, wealthy people, poor people, and most of the world’s population at some point from infancy to old age. The Epistemonikos Foundation, along with evidence-based healthcare (EBHC) researchers, information technologists and nutrition experts from four countries currently are building a unique, comprehensive database of synthesized nutrition-relevant evidence. This tool aims to support evidence-informed decision-making to reduce malnutrition.
Objectives: to share our approach, progress and lessons learned in planning, curating and building the database, which involves collaborative contributions from many people with diverse knowledge from different countries.
Methods: the collaboration was coordinated and established by the Epistemonikos Foundation. We developed draft eligibility criteria for considering studies for inclusion. We drafted and circulated a search strategy for the Epistemonikos database. Using an iterative process, we further developed and refined it, with contributions from content EBHC technology experts and a Cochrane Information Specialist. The final search yield was imported into a custom-screening software program. To calibrate and standardize screening by multiple collaborators, we piloted screening in a sample of retrieved records, and enhanced eligibility criteria further to be more specific, using actual examples, particularly in areas with likely uncertainty. Final screening is independent and in duplicate, using the custom software, and all eligible records will be included.
Results: we established our terms of reference for the collaboration through signed memorandums of understanding between the lead organization, Epistemonikos, and partners. The comprehensive final search yielded 44,596 records. Pilot screening was done for 150 records and final detailed eligibility criteria compiled. Screening by collaborators is ongoing, coordinated through Red de Nutrición Basada en la Evidencia (RED-NuBE), the Centre for Evidence-based Health, Stellenbosch University and Epistemonikos (Table 1), and database architecture and design is in progress.
Conclusions: we hope to establish a valuable, up-to-date, interconnected ‘one-stop shop’ of synthesized evidence relevant to decision-making that addresses the universal malnutrition burden. This systematic approach strives to uphold high methodological standards. It brings together diverse expertise, demonstrating successful collaboration across borders, languages and disciplines using technology, methods and content expertise, and teamwork.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: no direct patient or healthcare consumer involvement
Objectives: to share our approach, progress and lessons learned in planning, curating and building the database, which involves collaborative contributions from many people with diverse knowledge from different countries.
Methods: the collaboration was coordinated and established by the Epistemonikos Foundation. We developed draft eligibility criteria for considering studies for inclusion. We drafted and circulated a search strategy for the Epistemonikos database. Using an iterative process, we further developed and refined it, with contributions from content EBHC technology experts and a Cochrane Information Specialist. The final search yield was imported into a custom-screening software program. To calibrate and standardize screening by multiple collaborators, we piloted screening in a sample of retrieved records, and enhanced eligibility criteria further to be more specific, using actual examples, particularly in areas with likely uncertainty. Final screening is independent and in duplicate, using the custom software, and all eligible records will be included.
Results: we established our terms of reference for the collaboration through signed memorandums of understanding between the lead organization, Epistemonikos, and partners. The comprehensive final search yielded 44,596 records. Pilot screening was done for 150 records and final detailed eligibility criteria compiled. Screening by collaborators is ongoing, coordinated through Red de Nutrición Basada en la Evidencia (RED-NuBE), the Centre for Evidence-based Health, Stellenbosch University and Epistemonikos (Table 1), and database architecture and design is in progress.
Conclusions: we hope to establish a valuable, up-to-date, interconnected ‘one-stop shop’ of synthesized evidence relevant to decision-making that addresses the universal malnutrition burden. This systematic approach strives to uphold high methodological standards. It brings together diverse expertise, demonstrating successful collaboration across borders, languages and disciplines using technology, methods and content expertise, and teamwork.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: no direct patient or healthcare consumer involvement
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