| Health Information Forum: Workshop
33 |
|
Report |
|
|
HEALTH INFORMATION FORUM: Working together to improve access to reliable information for healthcare workers in developing and transitional countries
Email contributions to 'Getting research into practice in developing countries', Health Information Forum, January 2004
1. Dr Rasika Rampatige, MD Student in Community Medicine, Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health, Sauvasiripaya, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A medical doctor in Angoda, Sri Lanka. Her interests include maternal and child health care information systems.
Q: Are systematic reviews globally relevant or do they only apply in high income countries?
According to my experiences in health sector I think that global reviews do not apply to the same degree as they apply to high income countries. Although unlike in early days up to date information and reviews are available electronically the whole country still do not have easy access to internet. The internet facilitites are mainly concentrated to the city areas. But at times even in the areas where facilities are available the information culture is not very well established in order to for many in health care field to look for new knowledge. This habit is mainly limited to highly professional staff and for postgraduate
students.
One other reason is that there is no requisite for continued medical education. Once you get your registration you are allowed to practice in your whole life. Especially in the remote areas people practice with the knowledge they gathered 25-30 years back at the medical schools.
Q: What can you do to make sure research findings from developing countries find their way into systematic reviews?
- Make them a requirement for funding to submit the findings to systematic reviews
- Improve the access to latest developments in technology - Create information culture
- Increase the contacts with the professional colleges and postgraduate institutes- Encourage to contribute thier research findings
Q: How can evidence based practice be communicated in a way that is more accessible and relevant to health care providers in low-income countries?
- Use of contacts with the professional colleges, councils, and postgraduate teaching and training
- Publishing in e-journals that are freely accessible in the web. (Even Doctors in the developing counties find it difficult to subscribe for many e-journals.)
Make them available thruogh places like WHO or UNICEF library which are free to access.
2. Ross James, Director, Health Communication Resources and Senior Research Fellow, School of Public Health, Curtin University, USA. Ross James is director of Health Communication Resources (HCR) and adjunct research fellow at the School of Public Health, Curtin University. HCR trains health professionals to use radio for health communication which includes professional development for allied health workers. HCR is currently working in several countries, including Mongolia and Philippines. <www.h-c-r.org>
<[email protected]>
Without going into an extensive discussion could I suggest that radio programming be considered as one aspect of a package that combines different approaches? The broad framework would include:
a) Interactive Radio Instruction. Radio programmes designed in such a way as to train / teach health professionals. This approach has a successful track record.
b) Specific news program series. Radio productions designed for health professionals with the relevant information.
c) Talkback programs -- on air seminars -- that enable health professionals to discuss issues with research colleagues.
Government, community or commercial radio stations may well be interested in opening up a timeslot, especially if a corporate sponsor was found. And, don't forget shortwave radio -- many international stations are geared for such programs, although the target audience (health professionals) needs to have radio sets with SW frequencies of course, and you'd need to identify a SW broadcaster with a strong signal that covers the region.
|
