Need for evidence synthesis for quality control of healthcare decision-making

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/nje.v13i3.61004

Keywords:

Evidence synthesis, Systematic reviews, Scientific research, Decision-makers

Abstract

Systematic reviews that are out-of-date delay policymaking, create controversy, and can erode trust in research. To avoid this issue, it is preferable to keep summaries of the study evidence. Living evidence is a synthesis approach that provides up-to-date rigorous research evidence summaries to decision-makers. This strategy is particularly useful in rapidly expanding research domains, uncertain existing evidence, and new research that may impact policy or practice, ensuring that physicians have access to the most recent evidence. Addressing global challenges – ranging from public health crises to climate change or political instability - requires evidence-based judgements. An obsolete, biased, or selective information poses risks of poor decisions and resource misallocation. The relatively nascent practice of living evidence proves invaluable in maintaining continuous interest and team engagement. The concept of living evidence has been particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the rapidly evolving nature of the virus, the urgent need for timely information, and the continuous emergence of new research findings. Although the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of evidence systems, researchers and funders of research should rigorously test the living-evidence model across diverse domains to further advance and optimize its methodology.

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Author Biographies

Brijesh Sathian, Hamad Medical Corporation

Geriatrics and long term care Department, Rumailah Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

Edwin van Teijlingen, Bournemouth University

Centre for Midwifery& Women’s Health, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.

Israel Junior Borges do Nascimento, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe

Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark

Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib, DMIHER

Division of Evidence Synthesis, DMIHER, Wardha, India

Indrajit Banerjee, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Medical College

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Medical College, Belle Rive, Mauritius

Padam Simkhada, University of Huddersfield

School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

Russell Kabir, Anglia Ruskin University

School of Allied Health, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK

Hanadi Al Hamad, Hamad Medical Corporation

Geriatrics and long term care department, Rumailah Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

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Published

2023-12-23

How to Cite

Sathian, B., van Teijlingen, E., do Nascimento, I. J. B. ., Khatib, M. N. ., Banerjee, I., Simkhada, P., Kabir, R., & Al Hamad, H. (2023). Need for evidence synthesis for quality control of healthcare decision-making. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, 13(3), 1288–1291. https://doi.org/10.3126/nje.v13i3.61004

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Section

Short Communications