E-drug: resource centre on rational drug use intervention research
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In reaction to the proposal of Wilbert Bannenberg in developing
review groups, we would like to share with E-druggers the
development of a resource centre wich was presented and
discussed at the ICIUM (International Conference on Improving Use of
Medicines, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Resource centre on rational drug use intervention research
Flora M Haaijer-Ruskamp [1]
Amanda Le Grand [1]
Hans V Hogerzeil [2]
[1] WHO Coll Centre for Pharmacotherapy Teaching and Training
Groningen The Netherlands
[2] Action Programme on Essential Drugs WHO Geneva Switserland
Background
Although irrational drug use is acknowledged as a major public health
programme efforts to address, the
situation by developing innovative interventions seem to be
insufficient. Knowledge and experience gained in
experiments all over the world is wased unless it is accessible for
others. Conducting systematic reviews,
annotating and disseminating the results can be an important tool in
strengthening intervention research. The
objectives of such a resource centre are:
Immediate objectives:
Develop maintain and edit an annotated research database, Provide
technical support, Conduct reviews.
Longterm objectives:
Develop a theoretical framework of effective approaches and factors
facilitating the implementation and actual
effect of interventions in different health care and cultural
contexts through systematic reviews of intervention
studies in developed and developing countries.
A feasibility study was done to investigate the need for such a
resource centre and presented. We did a desk
study, a questionnaire was sent to 25 experts all over the world, of
whom 17 responded and we had
discussions with experts from selected programmes, ie INRUD, HAI,
Univ of Amsterdam, WHO Disease programmes.
The respondents reported a need for:
. regular supply and update of references
. regular information on what is on offer
. facilities to do online searches via internet
. provision of hard copies and references
There is a clear weakness in methodology in many of the research
undertaken so far. A strong need was
expressed for training in research methodology, data analysis, report
writing. These results were supported in ICIUM.
We concluded that a resource centre would fill a need for
strengthening intervention research on an international level.
A network will be developed involving WHO CC Groningen; U Amsterdam
in The Netherlands; the Boston INRUD support group in the USA; U
Aberdeen in Scotland, U of Stockholm in Sweden, U of Makerere in
Uganda, and the U of Yogyakarta in Indonesia. The secretariat
will be for the time being in Groningen The Netherlands.
The functions of the resource centre are:
- Documentation
- Annotation of references based on systematic review. An Annual with
review results will be issued annually. The annotation will be on
methodological criteria, type of intervention characteristics
(content, format such as medium and source, the role of guidelines,
feasibility of implementation, outcomes
- Dissemination by different routes: hard copies, e-mail, internet
WWW site
- Analysis of specific issues priorities: Impact of standard
treatment guidelines, drug bulletins, public education, cost
effectiveness of interventions, impact of contextual factors
- Training research methodology
A first start will be made soon. The resource centre offers the
opportunity of collaborating efforts of different
research groups all over the world. The resource centre will be in
touch with the Cochrane Collaboration on
Effective Professional Practice. However the resource centre covers a
broader field and is not limited to
randomized trials, controlled before after studies and interrupted
time series studies.
We would appreciate your comments and suggestions for developing the
resource centre. Please send your comments to:
Floor Haaijer, University of Groningen,
Email: F.M.Haaijer-Ruskamp@med.rug.nl
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