Article type
Abstract
"Background
With goals to enhance evidence-based clinical practice among optometrists and to establish the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) as a hub for evidence-based vision care, Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) partnered with the AAO to launch a joint educational program.
Objective
To describe the development, progress, and outcomes of the program.
Methods
Launched in Fall 2021, the program offers comprehensive training and mentoring in the methods of evidence synthesis across multiple phases. All AAO Fellows were invited to complete an online survey to identify pressing areas and research questions requiring systematic review evidence. Interested Fellows attended a symposium at the annual AAO 2022 meeting, introducing them to CEV and the process of conducting Cochrane systematic reviews. Interested individuals submitted online applications, prioritizing review topics of interest to them. Following a rigorous selection process, accepted Fellows undertook a 6-hour online systematic review curriculum provided by CEV. Program members were mentored and worked in groups to prepare a Cochrane systematic review or a scoping review.
Results
Based on the CEV Priority Setting exercise (Evans 2021) and the survey responses from 879 AAO Fellows, key areas of interest were identified. Eighty-five AAO Fellows applied to the inaugural program and were offered the online training. Thereafter, 38 were accepted into the first cohort in August 2022. The cohort was divided into six writing groups, each comprising six to seven members, two AAO mentors, and one CEV mentor. Challenges were observed in formulating a well-defined review question, ensuring consistency in applying the eligibility criteria, independently completing comprehensive risk of bias assessment, and synthesizing evidence without meta-analysis. By August 2023, all six writing groups had published or deposited their review protocols (Table). Two review manuscripts were submitted in February 2024, with all manuscripts expected to be published by November 2024.
Conclusions
The CEV|AAO joint program has successfully engaged optometrists in generating and publishing high-quality evidence on clinically important topics. This collaborative effort underscores the invaluable partnership with professional societies like the AAO in advancing evidence-based practices and fostering excellence in vision research translation and evidence-based eyecare. "
With goals to enhance evidence-based clinical practice among optometrists and to establish the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) as a hub for evidence-based vision care, Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) partnered with the AAO to launch a joint educational program.
Objective
To describe the development, progress, and outcomes of the program.
Methods
Launched in Fall 2021, the program offers comprehensive training and mentoring in the methods of evidence synthesis across multiple phases. All AAO Fellows were invited to complete an online survey to identify pressing areas and research questions requiring systematic review evidence. Interested Fellows attended a symposium at the annual AAO 2022 meeting, introducing them to CEV and the process of conducting Cochrane systematic reviews. Interested individuals submitted online applications, prioritizing review topics of interest to them. Following a rigorous selection process, accepted Fellows undertook a 6-hour online systematic review curriculum provided by CEV. Program members were mentored and worked in groups to prepare a Cochrane systematic review or a scoping review.
Results
Based on the CEV Priority Setting exercise (Evans 2021) and the survey responses from 879 AAO Fellows, key areas of interest were identified. Eighty-five AAO Fellows applied to the inaugural program and were offered the online training. Thereafter, 38 were accepted into the first cohort in August 2022. The cohort was divided into six writing groups, each comprising six to seven members, two AAO mentors, and one CEV mentor. Challenges were observed in formulating a well-defined review question, ensuring consistency in applying the eligibility criteria, independently completing comprehensive risk of bias assessment, and synthesizing evidence without meta-analysis. By August 2023, all six writing groups had published or deposited their review protocols (Table). Two review manuscripts were submitted in February 2024, with all manuscripts expected to be published by November 2024.
Conclusions
The CEV|AAO joint program has successfully engaged optometrists in generating and publishing high-quality evidence on clinically important topics. This collaborative effort underscores the invaluable partnership with professional societies like the AAO in advancing evidence-based practices and fostering excellence in vision research translation and evidence-based eyecare. "