|
As part of the Evidence =
Aid=20
programme, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, =
have=20
granted all people in Pakistan access to =
all=20
databases in The Cochrane =
Library,=20
including the Cochrane Database of =
Systematic=20
Reviews, initially up to November 2010. =
Please=20
share this information with family, friends, or=20
colleagues to whom it might be relevant.
|
Cochrane=20
Evidence Aid special collection=20
:Resources=20
for Pakistan =
Floods
Evidence Aid is The =
Cochrane=20
Collaboration's project to provide knowledge =
resources=20
for people planning for, and responding to, =
natural=20
disasters and other large scale emergencies (www.EvidenceAid.org).
A=20
collection of Cochrane Reviews has been put =
together on=20
water safety and water-related diseases, in =
light of the=20
devastating floods in Pakistan, and has been =
shared with=20
agencies, such as the World Health Organization. =
This=20
Special Collection, prepared by the Cochrane =
Editorial=20
Unit, in conjunction with partners in Pakistan =
and the=20
UK, is available on The Cochrane Library=20
website:
Water=20
safety and water related=20
diseases
A=20
collection of evidence summaries based on=20
systematic reviews from The Cochrane =
Collaboration.=20
Where available, a link is provided to Evidence=20
Update summaries
These=20
include evidence summaries on the following =
themes:
=95 Water-related =
diseases caused=20
by faecal pollution: general diarrhoea =
prevention,=20
management, & treatment=95 Water-related diseases=20
caused by faecal pollution: sorted by =
disease=95 Water-related diseases=20
caused by water-based insect vectors=95 Skin, eye, =
&=20
louse-borne diseases that can occur when there =
is a lack=20
of water for personal =
hygiene =95 Water-related diseases=20
caused by urine of certain mammals
Additional =
Resources and=20
Guidelines
Links to=20
websites of resources likely to be of use in =
disaster=20
relief (courtesy the Evidence Aid team and=20
collaborators)
Feedback=20
on the Special Collection is also welcomed. =
Please send=20
your feedback to: Mike Clarke (UK Cochrane =
Centre, mclarke@cochrane.ac.uk)=20
and Harriet MacLehose (Cochrane Editorial Unit, =
hmaclehose@cochrane.org)
Other Evidence=20
Aid=20
=
collections:
Cochrane =
influenza=20
resources: Evidence from Cochrane=20
Reviews
Cochrane =
Evidence Aid:=20
Resources for Haiti =
earthquake
Other Evidence =
Summaries from=20
The Cochrane Collaboration
Neglected Tropical =
Diseases
A=20
collection of summaries of systematic reviews =
from the=20
Cochrane Infectious =
Diseases=20
Group and the Cochrane Skin=20
Group
|
Impact of Cochrane =
Systematic=20
Review=20
The =
2009 impact=20
factors (IF) published by Thomson ISI =
states that=20
the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews =
(CDSR) has=20
an IMPACT FACTOR OF 5.653 and is=20
ranked 11th out=20
of 132 =20
in the ISI category Medicine, General =
&=20
Internal. The 2008 IF was =
5.182=20
and the ranking was 12th out of 107=20
journals. The 2007 IF was 4.654 and =
the=20
ranking was 14th out of 100. Further =
analysis=20
and information is available at the 2009 IF Frequently=20
Asked Questions page on The Cochrane =
Library=20
web=
site=20
updates.
However, Richard Horton, =
editor of=20
The Lancet, in: =
Volume=20
376, Issue 9735, (Page 80, 10 July 2010), =
argues=20
that The=20
CDSR has a bigger =
influence=20
than its impact factor suggests. The total =
number of=20
times CDSR is being cited (a better index =
of its=20
impact) ranks the CDSR consistently=20
8th. Moreover, the change in the IF =
from 2007=20
to 2009 puts the CDSR at 5th =
(behind=20
only NEJM, The Lancet, JAMA, and the =
BMJ).=20
Dr. Horton concludes=20
that users of the medical literature ought to =
pay more=20
attention to the Cochrane Database of =
Systematic=20
Reviews. We certainly=20
concur!
Top=20
of Page=20
|
Top-cited Cochrane =
review in 2009=20
authored by Prof.Kameshwar=20
Prasad=20
Prof. Kameshwar =
Prasad=20
from the All India Institute of Medical =
Sciences, New=20
Delhi and a member of the South Asian Cochrane =
Network=20
Steering Group, was an author of two Cochrane =
Reviews=20
that were the top cited reviews in 2009 for the =
Acute=20
Respiratory Infections Group (Corticosteroids =
for acute=20
bacterial meningitis) and the Infectious =
Diseases Group=20
(Corticosteroids for managing tuberculous =
meningitis).=20
Congratulations!.
|
New Cochrane Journal=20
ClubTopics=20
![3D"Journal](3D"http://www.cochrane-sacn.org/portals/0/last_files/club.png")
The Cochrane Journal=20
Club is a relatively new initiative =
of the=20
Cochrane Collaboration which aims to provide =
ready made=20
materials for presentation and discussion at =
journal=20
clubs and educational meetings.
Each issue is free, and contains an =
introduction to a=20
recent Cochrane review, together with relevant=20
background information, a podcast explaining the =
key=20
points of the review, discussion questions to =
help you=20
to explore the review methods and findings in =
more=20
detail, and downloadable PowerPoint slides =
containing=20
key figures and tables. You can even =
contact the=20
review authors with your questions. =
Aimed at =
trainees,=20
researchers and clinicians alike, every Cochrane =
Journal=20
Club article is specially selected from the =
hundreds of=20
new and updated reviews published in each issue =
of The=20
Cochrane Library representing diverse clinical =
topics,=20
and each one focuses on a review of special =
interest,=20
such as practice-changing reviews, new =
methodology and=20
evidence-based practice.
|
WHO Malaria Treatment=20
Guidelines=20
<=
/FONT>
The second edition of the =
World Health=20
Organization's Guidelines for the Treatment of=20
Malaria, were released in March 2010, based =
on the=20
best available evidence, supported by specially=20
commissioned systematic reviews from the =
Cochrane=20
Infectious Diseases Group. =
The first edition of the =
guidelines in=20
2006 led the world to abandon some of the old =
treatments=20
which were increasingly ineffective, and use=20
artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)=20
incorporating a highly effective new group of =
drugs, the=20
artemisinin derivatives. These combinations have =
been=20
shown to produce consistently high cure rates, =
and it is=20
hoped that this approach will also reduce the =
risk of=20
the malaria parasite developing further drug =
resistance=20
and help reduce malaria transmission.=20
In the new guidelines the =
main changes=20
are an emphasis on testing before treating, =
using=20
quality assured Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT's), =
and the=20
addition of a fifth ACT (dihydroartemisinin plus =
piperaquine) to the previous list of recommended =
medicines.
=
Listen=20
to Dr Peter Olumese from the World Health=20
Organization's Global Malaria Programme talking =
about=20
the new edition of the Malaria Treatment =
Guidelines:=20
The commissioned systematic reviews =
were=20
produced by members of the DFID-funded Effective Health Care=20
RPC.
Top=20
of Page
|
Special issue of Indian =
Pediatrics=20
on Severe Acute=20
Malnutrition(SAM) =
Severe=20
Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children is =
recognized as a=20
major underlying cause of preventable deaths =
amongst=20
under-five children by increasing the case =
fatality rate=20
in children suffering from common illnesses such =
as=20
diarrhea and pneumonia. It is estimated =
that around=20
eight million children in India are likely to =
have SAM.=20
The=20
special issue in Indian Pediatrics =
includes a=20
Consensus Statement that emerged from a=20
National Consensus workshop held in =
November 2009=20
on the management of SAM children through =
Medical=20
Nutrition Therapy. Among the urgent =
research=20
issues identified by this statement are the=20
comparison=20
of ready to use therapeutic foods (RUTF) with =
home-based=20
and locally-formulated products; the =
physiological=20
recovery and long-term benefits of the above =
treatments;=20
the effect of introduction of RUTF on breast =
feeding;=20
and operationalization and economic analysis of =
RUTF in=20
different settings.
For more =
information,=20
contact: Prof. H.P.S.=20
Sachdev, Department of Pediatrics and =
Clinical=20
Epidemiology, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of =
Science and=20
Research, B-16, Qutab Institutional Area, New =
Delhi 110=20
016, India. E-mail: hpssachdev@gmail.com.
Access the =
special=20
issue online..
|
Georgia Salanti =
Weds =
Haris=20
Vasiliadis =20
Georgia=20
Salanti, Lecturer, Clinical and Molecular =
Epidemiology=20
Unit, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, =
University=20
of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, =
Greece, and a=20
member of the South Asian Cochrane Network=92s =
Advisory=20
Group married Haris Vasiliadis, an Orthopaedic =
Surgeon,=20
in June 2010.
Georgia=20
and Haris were resource persons at the =
3rd=20
South Asian Regional Symposium on =
Evidence-Informed=20
Healthcare held at Vellore in January 2010. We =
wish the=20
couple all happiness, plenty of mousaka and we =
look=20
forward to the patter of little feet.=20
Congratulations!
|
Dave=20
Sinclair:=20
Visiting =
Adjunct=20
Fellow at the South Asian Cochrane Network & =
=
Centre=20
David Sinclair, an editor with =
the=20
Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group, was seconded =
by the=20
International Health Group at the Liverpool =
School of=20
Tropical Medicine to the South Asian Cochrane =
Network=20
& Centre from October 2009 where he has been =
a=20
Visiting Adjunct Fellow in Research Synthesis. =
Prior to=20
coming to Vellore, Dave helped prepare Cochrane =
reviews=20
relevant to the updating of the WHO Malaria =
Treatment=20
Guidelines; prepared GRADE tables assessing the =
quality=20
of the evidence and co-ordinate the =
interpretation of=20
GRADE tables and formulation of recommendations =
by a WHO=20
task force that led to the publication of the =
updated=20
WHO Malaria Treatment Guidelines.
Dave has been =
extremely=20
helpful to the South Asian Cochrane Network=92s =
activities=20
and has mentored a number of Cochrane Systematic =
Reviews. He has helped many review authors =
understand=20
the intricacies of using the GRADE approach and =
GRADE=20
Pro software in preparing Summary of Findings =
Tables and=20
helped in the conduct of training workshops, =
both at=20
Vellore and at other places, including Mumbai, =
Hyderabad=20
and Dhaka. Dave was a plenary speaker at the=20
3rd South Asian Regional Symposium on =
Evidence-Informed healthcare at Vellore in =
January and=20
conducted a well-attended and appreciated =
workshop on=20
GRADE. He was one of the resource persons for =
the=20
Beginners=92 Guide to EBM series of workshops =
for students=20
at this symposium. He helped develop and conduct =
a=20
module on Evidence-Informed Health Policy for =
the=20
Masters in Public Health course at the Christian =
Medical=20
College, Vellore. He is helping us to develop =
online=20
training modules on Evidence-Informed Healthcare =
for=20
students in the health sciences and is currently =
evaluating the usefulness of Evidence Summaries =
for=20
General Practitioners.
Dave is a GP and =
has worked=20
within Primary Healthcare in both high and low =
income=20
countries. He remains passionate about the =
delivery of=20
essential healthcare to underserved populations. =
He has=20
an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries, =
obtained from the London School of Tropical =
Medicine=20
where he topped his batch; his thesis was on=20
meningococcus in India. His is keenly interested =
in the=20
translation of research into health policy and =
practice,=20
and health systems research and =
strengthening. =20
When not involved in these activities, Dave is =
an ardent=20
jazz aficionado and plays the piano into the wee =
hours=20
of the morning.
|
Winter Symposium=20
-2010 =
In =
January=20
2010 the Vellore team hosted the 8th Winter =
Symposium=20
& 3rd South Asian Regional Symposium on =
Evidence=20
Informed Healthcare. Aims were to improve =
communication=20
between policy makers, researchers and =
clinicians in the=20
Indian health sector and to increase the uptake =
of=20
reliable and relevant evidence in health policy =
and=20
care. A staggering 44 plenary presentations, 22=20
concurrent workshops and 4 keynote addresses =
covered the=20
building blocks of generating and utilizing =
reliable=20
evidence. The high quality Indian presenters,=20
complimented by an array of international =
figures, added=20
weight to the overall message; that improving =
Indian=20
healthcare is reliant on evidence-informed =
decision=20
making processes, that are themselves reliant on =
the=20
high quality production and reporting of =
homegrown=20
Indian research. More info and multi-media =
presentations=20
from the symposium at http://www.cochrane-sacn=
.org/symposium/
|
E-learning =
The South =
Asian Cochrane=20
Centre has been awarded a grant from the =
Christian=20
Medical College to develop on-line tutorials in=20
evidence-based medicine. These will be aimed at =
the=20
beginner, undergraduate or postgraduate, and =
cover the=20
range of techniques used to ask and answer =
everyday=20
clinical questions. The theoretical tutorials, =
lectures=20
and self-assessments will be supplemented with a =
range=20
of real case scenarios demonstrating how, when =
and where=20
knowledge and critical appraisal of evidence can =
enhance=20
patient care and job satisfaction. If you would =
like to=20
contribute an example from your own practice =
these would=20
be gratefully received. Please e-mail us a brief =
outline=20
of the case, a summary of the EBM principles the =
case=20
demonstrates, and your own feelings about how =
applying=20
the evidence helped in this=20
=
scenario.
|
Workshops=20
Systematic =
Review=20
Completion and Review Update =
Workshop: November=20
8-12, 2010; Christian Medical College, =
Vellore
A=20
practical workshop for those who have a =
published=20
protocol for a Cochrane Systematic Review that =
they wish=20
to complete, or for those who wish to update a =
published=20
Cochrane review. Participants will be provided =
space,=20
resources, resource persons, and help to =
complete the=20
results and discussion section for their =
reviews,=20
including extracting and entering data into =
RevMan 5,=20
performing meta-analysis and other pre-specified =
secondary analyses.
For more=20
details.....
Creating Summary =
of=20
findings tables and grading recommendations =
using GRADE=20
Pro: November 12, 2010
This=20
practical workshop will help participants create =
summary=20
of findings tables and evidence summaries of the =
meta-analyses in their systematic reviews using =
GRADE=20
Pro software, interpret results and write the =
discussion=20
and recommendations of the review. This is a =
stand-alone=20
workshop for those wishing to know more about =
GRADE, as=20
well as the last day of the review completion=20
workshop.
For more=20
details......
Past Traning=20
Programmes
| |
|
In=20
this =
Issue |