gms | German Medical Science

G-I-N Conference 2012

Guidelines International Network

22.08 - 25.08.2012, Berlin

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Improving practice: Rx for Change – an intervention research database for healthcare decision-makers and researchers

Meeting Abstract

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  • J.M. Grimshaw - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Canadian Cochrane Centre and Network, Ottawa, Canada
  • S. Hill - Cochrane Consumer and Communication Review Group, Melbourne, Australia; La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
  • A. Mayhew - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group, Ottawa, Canada
  • G. Cowie - Cochrane Consumer and Communication Review Group, Melbourne, Australia; La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
  • R. Ryan - Cochrane Consumer and Communication Review Group, Melbourne, Australia; La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
  • D. Lowe - Cochrane Consumer and Communication Review Group, Melbourne, Australia; La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
  • J. Worswick - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group, Ottawa, Canada
  • S.C. Wayne - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group, Ottawa, Canada
  • K. Sullivan - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group, Ottawa, Canada
  • M. Fiander - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group, Ottawa, Canada

Guidelines International Network. G-I-N Conference 2012. Berlin, 22.-25.08.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. DocP010

doi: 10.3205/12gin122, urn:nbn:de:0183-12gin1229

Published: July 10, 2012

© 2012 Grimshaw et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Background: Improving health care often requires changing the behaviour of healthcare professionals and consumers. The Rx for Change http://www.rxforchange.ca/ database attempts to close the gap between research discovery and program implementation by gathering and translating the abundant evidence from systematic reviews into a single accessible package to inform healthcare decision makers.

Objectives: To describe Rx for Change and disseminate evidence gathered on the effectiveness of interventions designed to change professional practice and medicines use by consumers.

Methods: We identify, analyse, summarise and report our findings from systematic reviews using standardised methods. We organise and present this data on the Rx for Change web-site using a multi-layer format that includes: an expandable list of intervention categories; summaries of evidence found for each intervention; a list of all systematic reviews that address the intervention topic with corresponding quality scores; and a description and summary of results and conclusions from each individual review.

Results: The database contains: summaries of key findings for 275 systematic reviews, and summaries and statements of effectiveness for 39 intervention categories the reviews addressed. Examples of effective interventions include: distribution of educational materials and use of educational meetings to improve professional practice (including prescribing) and the use of decision aids to minimise risks or harms to consumers medicines use. Research gaps are evident in 11 intervention categories.

Implications: Rx for Change provides up-to-date evidence to guide healthcare decision makers towards effective intervention strategies. Guidelines and other policy and research initiatives should be informed by this evidence.