A Proposal of Reporting Items for Evidence Briefs for Policy: RIGHT-EBP

Article type
Authors
Wang Q1, Zhang JY2, Wu SY3, Ma YF3, Yang N3, Chen YL3, Yang KH3, Lavis J1
1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact (HEI), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University; McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University
2School of Public Health, Lanzhou University; Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University; WHO Collaborating Centre for Guideline Implementation and Knowledge Translation; Cochrane China Network
3Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University; WHO Collaborating Centre for Guideline Implementation and Knowledge Translation; Cochrane China Network
Abstract
Background: The evidence briefs for policy (EBPs) can provide potential policy options on a specific topic for health policymakers. An increasing number of organizations (e.g. McMaster Health Forum, the World Health Organization) already developed and are developing the policy briefs on different topics or fields. However, the reporting of policy briefs by different organizations and groups varies widely.

Objectives: To develop the reporting checklists for policy briefs for healthcare, to further help policymakers for better evidence-informed policymaking.

Methods: We will develop the reporting checklists for EBPs as an extension of the Reporting Tool for Practice Guidelines in Health Care (RIGHT) statement. The study design will be modified based on the methodology recommended by the EQUATOR Network. We will establish an international multidisciplinary team (RIGHT-EBP working group), identify a sample of evidence briefs for policy by searching main development organizations, and analyze their reporting characteristics to collect the initial reporting items. Then we will select and identify the included items by a modified Delphi process. Lastly, we will pilot test the draft reporting checklists (RIGHT-EBP). We will update the RIGHT-EBP checklist every three years.

Results: The development of the RIGHT- EBP has been approved by the RIGHT Working Group. The RIGHT for EBP will provide the guide for policy brief development groups about what information should be reported in EBP and how to organize important information. We will present the initial results at the conference.

Conclusions: The RIGHT- EBP could help policy brief development organizations and groups present the information that would be of the interest of policymakers, and help policymakers use the policy briefs in an easy way, then promote the readability and wide use of policy briefs.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Patients and the public will be consulted as the target audience of EBPs to identify their needs and collect their feedback. One of expected activities will be conducting the citizen panel or establish a focus group.