EDITOR - The paper on implementing research findings in developing
countries (1) sets out a clear framework for getting research findings
into practice. With the creation of systematic reviews and guidelines, and
implementation programmes through workshops and published work, this
is very much in line with the process in western countries. However one
element that we would add into this is the development of skills to find
and appraise the scientific evidence. We know that as a single
intervention the dissemination of guidelines and other educational
materials has only a small impact on practice (2) and approaches have to
be multifaceted to work. Yet for many parts of the developing world
access to evidence will be through literature in one form or another, and
there may be little opportunity for getting together with colleagues.
This means that the acquisition of skills to find and appraise evidence
must be central to all programmes designed to help get research into
practice. Even in the United Kingdom there are still many clinical
staff who have not got the basic skills in finding and appraising evidence
and this is now being remedied through comprehensive educational
programmes in many parts of the country. To ensure clinicians are equipped
with skills to find and appraise evidence is an enormous challenge for
developing countries, but has to be tackled. This will need to be through
methods taylored for the particular needs of clinicians in developing
countries and to be successful will no doubt
need to include distance learning techniques.
1. Garner P, Kale R, Dickson R, Dans T, Salinas R. Implementing
research findings in developing countries. BMJ 1998;317:531-5
2. Freemantle N, Harvey EL, Wolf F, Grimshaw JM, Grilli R, Bero LA.
Printed educational materials to improve the behaviour of healthcare
professionals and patient outcomes. Cochrane Library 1998: Issue 3.
Alison Hill Director of Public Health and Primary Care
Buckinghamshire Health Authority
Verney House
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire HP19 3ET
Katie Enock CASP Manager
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme
Public Health Resource Unit
Institute of Health Sciences
Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF
Catherine Brogan
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Public Health Resource Unit
Institute of Health Sciences
Headington
Oxford OX3 7LF
Rapid Response:
Skills for appraising evidence must be taught
EDITOR - The paper on implementing research findings in developing
countries (1) sets out a clear framework for getting research findings
into practice. With the creation of systematic reviews and guidelines, and
implementation programmes through workshops and published work, this
is very much in line with the process in western countries. However one
element that we would add into this is the development of skills to find
and appraise the scientific evidence. We know that as a single
intervention the dissemination of guidelines and other educational
materials has only a small impact on practice (2) and approaches have to
be multifaceted to work. Yet for many parts of the developing world
access to evidence will be through literature in one form or another, and
there may be little opportunity for getting together with colleagues.
This means that the acquisition of skills to find and appraise evidence
must be central to all programmes designed to help get research into
practice. Even in the United Kingdom there are still many clinical
staff who have not got the basic skills in finding and appraising evidence
and this is now being remedied through comprehensive educational
programmes in many parts of the country. To ensure clinicians are equipped
with skills to find and appraise evidence is an enormous challenge for
developing countries, but has to be tackled. This will need to be through
methods taylored for the particular needs of clinicians in developing
countries and to be successful will no doubt
need to include distance learning techniques.
1. Garner P, Kale R, Dickson R, Dans T, Salinas R. Implementing
research findings in developing countries. BMJ 1998;317:531-5
2. Freemantle N, Harvey EL, Wolf F, Grimshaw JM, Grilli R, Bero LA.
Printed educational materials to improve the behaviour of healthcare
professionals and patient outcomes. Cochrane Library 1998: Issue 3.
Alison Hill Director of Public Health and Primary Care
Buckinghamshire Health Authority
Verney House
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire HP19 3ET
Katie Enock CASP Manager
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme
Public Health Resource Unit
Institute of Health Sciences
Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF
Catherine Brogan
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Public Health Resource Unit
Institute of Health Sciences
Headington
Oxford OX3 7LF
Competing interests: No competing interests