You are welcome Charles Mnyororo,

We continue to discuss the role of systematic reviews (with thanks to support from TDR and WHO) and all other kinds of health research and uptake on the HIFA forum. This includes discussion on evidence behind WASH and how to implement it. All are welcome to join here: www.hifa.org/joinhifa

HIFA (Healthcare Information For All) is a global community of practice (similar to SuSanA, with a complementary remit) of people who believe in the power of healthcare information and knowledge to improve global health. Working in collaboration with WHO, we have more than 17,000 members (health workers, librarians, publishers, researchers, policymakers and others) in 177 countries worldwide. Our website is www.hifa.org and membership is free. Join here: www.hifa.org/joinhifa

Best wishes, Neil

Let's build a future where people are no longer dying for lack of healthcare information - Join HIFA: www.hifa.org

HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is the coordinator of the HIFA campaign (Healthcare Information For All - www.hifa.org ) and current chair of the Dgroups Foundation (www.dgroups.info), which supports 700 communities of practice for international development, social justice and global health. Twitter: @hifa_org FB: facebook.com/HIFAdotORG This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Neil

Thank you for the information and invitation as well

Hi Elisabeth,

The full discussion on Systematic Reviews is here:

www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/publica..._Reviews_IN_FULL.pdf

A narrative summary is here:

www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/publica...arrative_Summary.pdf

We didn't have any specific discussion on SRs and sanitation.

Discussion on the role of SRs in health continues on HIFA and all are welcome to join here: www.hifa.org/joinhifa

Best wishes, Neil


HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is the coordinator of the HIFA campaign (Healthcare Information For All - www.hifa.org ) and current chair of the Dgroups Foundation (www.dgroups.info), which supports 700 communities of practice for international development, social justice and global health. Twitter: @hifa_org FB: facebook.com/HIFAdotORG This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Neil,

Is it possible to browse through the discussion on the role of systematic reviews in low and middle income countries (LMICs) somewhere on your website (without being a member)? If not, I guess we have to wait for the synthesis report in September (please post it here when it's done).

Did the topic of sanitation get any airtime during this discussion? (e.g. systematic reviews of health benefits due to improved sanitation)

I had to look up what "systematic reviews" are exactly... My favourite Wikipedia tells me that:

Systematic reviews are a type of literature review that collects and critically analyzes multiple research studies or papers, using methods that are selected before one or more research questions are formulated, and then finding and analyzing studies that relate to and answer those questions in a structured methodology.[1] They are designed to provide a complete, exhaustive summary of current literature relevant to a research question. Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials are key in the practice of evidence-based medicine,[2] and a review of existing studies is often quicker and cheaper than embarking on a new study.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_review
(good Wikipedia article on this topic?)

So the well-known Cochrane reviews in the field of health are one example.

I read that your discussion wanted to address these questions:

1. What are systematic reviews? Why are they important?
2. What are the strengths and limitations of SRs (to guide policy and practice in LMICs)?
3. What is the role of (global) SRs versus (local) single research studies (to guide policy and practice in LMICs)?
4. What can be done to increase the relevance and usefulness of SRs (to guide policy and practice in LMICs)?
5. What can be done to promote the production, interpretation and synthesis of SRs in LMICs?

Regards,
Elisabeth

Dear SuSanA colleagues,

I would like to invite you to join a HIFA discussion on the role of systematic reviews in LMICs (including how systematic reviews inform policy and practice in relation to sanitation, WASH...). Further details here:
www.hifa.org/news/join-hifa-discussion-s...starting-15-may-2017

Best wishes, Neil

Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh MB,BS, DCH, DRCOG
HIFA Coordinator (Healthcare Information For All)
Co-director, Global Healthcare Information Network
Chair, Dgroups Foundation ( www.dgroups.info )
Corner House, Market St
Charlbury, Oxfordshire OX7 3PN, UK

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