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Khalid AF, Grimshaw JM, Parakh ND, Charide R, Rab F, Sohani S. Decision-makers' experiences with rapid evidence summaries to support real-time evidence informed decision-making in crises: a mixed methods study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:282. [PMID: 36966293 PMCID: PMC10039327 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09302-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a clear need for research evidence to drive policymaking and emergency responses so that lives are saved and resources are not wasted. The need for evidence support for health and humanitarian crisis is even more pertinent because of the time and practical constraints that decision-makers in these settings face. To improve the use of research evidence in policy and practice, it is important to provide evidence resources tailored to the target audience. This study aims to gain real-world insights from decision-makers about how they use evidence summaries to inform real-time decision-making in crisis-settings, and to use our findings to improve the format of evidence summaries. METHODS This study used an explanatory sequential mixed method study design. First, we used a survey to identify the views and experiences of those who were directly involved in crisis response in different contexts, and who may or may not have used evidence summaries. Second, we used the insights generated from the survey to help inform qualitative interviews with decision-makers in crisis-settings to derive an in-depth understanding of how they use evidence summaries and their desired format for evidence summaries. RESULTS We interviewed 26 decision-makers working in health and humanitarian emergencies. The study identified challenges decision-makers face when trying to find and use research evidence in crises, including insufficient time and increased burden of responsibilities during crises, limited access to reliable internet connection, large volume of data not translated into user friendly summaries, and little information available on preparedness and response measures. Decision-makers preferred the following components in evidence summaries: title, target audience, presentation of key findings in an actionable checklist or infographic format, implementation considerations, assessment of the quality of evidence presented, citation and hyperlink to the full review, funding sources, language of full review, and other sources of information on the topic. Our study developed an evidence summary template with accompanying training material to inform real-time decision-making in crisis-settings. CONCLUSIONS Our study provided a deeper understanding of the preferences of decision-makers working in health and humanitarian emergencies about the format of evidence summaries to enable real-time evidence informed decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Firas Khalid
- Centre for Implementation Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Health System Impact Fellowship, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Implementation Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Health in Emergencies, Canadian Red Cross, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Jeremy M Grimshaw
- Centre for Implementation Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nandana D Parakh
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Rana Charide
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Faiza Rab
- Health in Emergencies, Canadian Red Cross, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Salim Sohani
- Health in Emergencies, Canadian Red Cross, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Zhang L, Zhao J, Liu J, Chen K. Community Disaster Resilience in the COVID-19 Outbreak: Insights from Shanghai's Experience in China. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 13:3259-3270. [PMID: 33447106 PMCID: PMC7802019 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s283447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Communities are central to the practice of public health emergency preparedness and response. This article mainly focuses on COVID-19 and discusses the formation and structure of community disaster resilience, which is an effective method for coping with such a public health emergency. Methods Based on the management of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, this article uses Shanghai's experience to illustrate how a community disaster resilience was formed for risk management. Resorting to the analytical framework of risk city, principles of community disaster resilience are given. Results Four actions can be recommended based on Shanghai's experience: 1) Applying a vulnerability analysis matrix for targeted risk governance, 2) empowering volunteer groups for emergency response, 3) policy and action for public health emergency prevention, and 4) risk communication for uncertainty-oriented planning. Conclusion Shanghai's experience offers a reference to tackle the COVID-19 at the global level. The COVID-19 outbreak highlights that humans still face various unpredictable health risks in the future. Forming a connection-based resilience at the community level is an effective way to risk management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Zhang
- School of Public Administration, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji Zhao
- School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jixin Liu
- School of Marxism, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Kelin Chen
- Institute of Urban Governance, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
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El-Jardali F, Bou-Karroum L, Fadlallah R. Amplifying the role of knowledge translation platforms in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Health Res Policy Syst 2020; 18:58. [PMID: 32493339 PMCID: PMC7267748 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-020-00576-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presents the worst public health crisis in recent history. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenged by many factors, including scientific uncertainties, scarcity of relevant research, proliferation of misinformation and fake news, poor access to actionable evidence, time constraints, and weak collaborations among relevant stakeholders. Knowledge translation (KT) platforms, composed of organisations, initiatives and networks supporting evidence-informed policy-making, can play an important role in providing relevant and timely evidence to inform pandemic responses and bridge the gap between science, policy, practice and politics. In this Commentary, we highlight the emerging roles of KT platforms in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also reflect on the lessons learned from the efforts of a KT platform in a middle-income country to inform decision-making and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lessons learned can be integrated into strengthening the role, structures and mandates of KT platforms as hubs for trustworthy evidence that can inform policies and practice during public health crises and in promoting their integration and institutionalisation within the policy-making processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi El-Jardali
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Lama Bou-Karroum
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Racha Fadlallah
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Khalid AF, Lavis JN, El-Jardali F, Vanstone M. Supporting the use of research evidence in decision-making in crisis zones in low- and middle-income countries: a critical interpretive synthesis. Health Res Policy Syst 2020; 18:21. [PMID: 32070370 PMCID: PMC7027202 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-020-0530-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decision-makers in crisis zones are faced with the challenge of having to make health-related decisions under limited time and resource constraints and in light of the many factors that can influence their decisions, of which research evidence is just one. To address a key gap in the research literature about how best to support the use of research evidence in such situations, we conducted a critical interpretive synthesis approach to develop a conceptual framework that outlines the strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones. METHODS We systematically reviewed both empirical and non-empirical literature and used an interpretive analytic approach to synthesise the results and develop the conceptual framework. We used a 'compass' question to create a detailed search strategy and conducted electronic searches in CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SSCI and Web of Science. A second reviewer was assigned to a representative sample of articles. We purposively sampled additional papers to fill in conceptual gaps. RESULTS We identified 21 eligible papers to be analysed and purposively sampled an additional 6 to fill conceptual gaps. The synthesis resulted in a conceptual framework that focuses on evidence use in crisis zones examined through the lens of four systems - political, health, international humanitarian aid and health research. Within each of the four systems, the framework identifies the most actionable strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use. CONCLUSIONS This study presents a new conceptual framework that outlines strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones within different systems. This study expands on the literature pertaining to evidence-informed decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Firas Khalid
- Health Policy PhD Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - John N Lavis
- Health Policy PhD Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Political Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Fadi El-Jardali
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Management & Policy, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- enter for Systematic Review in Health Policy and Systems Research (SPARK), American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Meredith Vanstone
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Rapid qualitative research methods during complex health emergencies: A systematic review of the literature. Soc Sci Med 2017; 189:63-75. [PMID: 28787628 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa highlighted both the successes and limitations of social science contributions to emergency response operations. An important limitation was the rapid and effective communication of study findings. A systematic review was carried out to explore how rapid qualitative methods have been used during global heath emergencies to understand which methods are commonly used, how they are applied, and the difficulties faced by social science researchers in the field. We also asses their value and benefit for health emergencies. The review findings are used to propose recommendations for qualitative research in this context. Peer-reviewed articles and grey literature were identified through six online databases. An initial search was carried out in July 2016 and updated in February 2017. The PRISMA checklist was used to guide the reporting of methods and findings. The articles were assessed for quality using the MMAT and AACODS checklist. From an initial search yielding 1444 articles, 22 articles met the criteria for inclusion. Thirteen of the articles were qualitative studies and nine used a mixed-methods design. The purpose of the rapid studies included: the identification of causes of the outbreak, and assessment of infrastructure, control strategies, health needs and health facility use. The studies varied in duration (from 4 days to 1 month). The main limitations identified by the authors were: the low quality of the collected data, small sample sizes, and little time for cross-checking facts with other data sources to reduce bias. Rapid qualitative methods were seen as beneficial in highlighting context-specific issues that need to be addressed locally, population-level behaviors influencing health service use, and organizational challenges in response planning and implementation. Recommendations for carrying out rapid qualitative research in this context included the early designation of community leaders as a point of contact, early and continuous sharing of findings, and development of recommendations with local policy makers and practitioners.
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