Transcript Newcomer's session - Cochrane Consumer Network (CCNET)

Evidence-based Health Care and Consumer
Involvement in Developing Countries:
Challenges and Opportunities
Godwin N. Aja, MCH, CHES
Department of Health Sciences
Babcock University
Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
A Consumer Workshop Presentation at the African Cochrane Contributors
Meeting organized by the South African Cochrane Centre, May 22-29, 2007 at
the South African Medical and Research Council Conference Centre, Cape
Town, Republic of South Africa
Wake Up Call
It is certainly expedient for developing
countries consumers to contribute in the search
for and development of evidence for quality
assurance.
Food for Thought
“What’s a [good] review good for without a consumer?”
(Cochrane Consumer Network Newsletter, Issue 8,
December 2004)
Cochrane Consumer: Definition
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An individual who has unique personal experiences that allow him or her
to provide an effective healthcare user/receiver perspective to a
systematic review question.
An individual or a representative of a community health support
organization or group and is generally without specialist medical
knowledge.
The term, consumer, is used more broadly than for patients actively under
treatment.
Cochrane Consumer Network (CCNet)
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Links and coordinates consumer input in the work of The Cochrane
Collaboration.
Empowers consumers by providing training, support, and multilevel
communication.
Supports and coordinates consumers working within The Collaboration,
enabling effective, open communication.
Empowers consumers involved within The Cochrane Collaboration to
inform other consumers of the value of systematic reviews.
CCNET “provides consumer input into developing Cochrane
systematic reviews of best evidence in health care and in
utilizing this evidence”.
www.cochrane.org/consumers
The Cochrane Collaboration Structure
and Consumers
Collaborative
Review
Groups
Fields
Centres
Steering
Group
The
Consumer
Network
Methods
Groups
CCNet – Who we are
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Equal partners in the search for evidence
Key stakeholders
An entity of The Cochrane Collaboration
A Field within the Collaboration (works with more than one entity)
CCNet – What we offer
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Identifying questions that are important to consumers
Commenting on Cochrane reviews
Disseminating results
Raising awareness of the importance of systematic reviews
Handsearching healthcare journals
Contributing to writing lay summaries of systematic reviews
Maintaining an e-mail discussion list and a website
Producing newsletters and disseminating information, including from
reviews
Providing links between consumers and relevant Cochrane entities
Organizing workshops
Representing the views of consumers both inside and external to the
Collaboration
CCNet – What we offer
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Translating materials
Recruiting other consumers
Being a consumer editor
Being an author of a review (or part of a team)
Fundraising
Being a consumer representative on Cochrane advisory groups and the
Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group
CCNet – How we work
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More than 300 members: From Australia/New Zealand; United
Kingdom/Europe; Africa; USA/Canada; Asia/Pacific; Latin America;
Middle East.
The Cochrane Collaboration itself has Centres and Branches in over 23
different countries.
The Convenor coordinates the activities of the Network and strives to
strengthen the role of consumers in the Collaboration and outside
Supported by an Administrator in organizing and supporting our
membership
An international Governance Council (Coordinating Team) is charged
with ensuring equitable opportunity for consumer members and good
governance.
Two representatives on The Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group
Operates principally via the internet (regional meetings and the annual
Cochrane Colloquium provides an opportunity to meet)
CCNet – How we work
To contact the Cochrane Consumer Network, send an email to:
 [email protected] with your name and
enquiry
To find out more about CCNet, go to:
 www.cochrane.org/consumers
Current Stages* of Consumer
Involvement in Developing Countries
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Precontemplators: No idea that EBHC exists.
Contemplators: EBHC exists but no commitment.
Preparators: Intending to take action soon.
Actors: Considerable commitment of time and energy
Maintainers: Super commitment (in consumer recruitment, training,
support, etc).
*(Prochaska)
Recruiting developing countries
consumers: Challenges
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Language of evidence (medical science) - technical
Practitioners of evidence (medical science) – sophisticated (medical
distance)
Paternalism not partnership
Technology gap – so wide
Resources (time commitment vs. volunteerism) - limited
Past experiences - inhibitive
Culture - different
Recruiting developing countries
consumers: Opportunities
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CCNet – a rallying point
Partnership with local community leaders/consumer organizations
Partnership with religious groups
Institute awards/incentives on consumer participation at local, provincial
and national levels
Developing Countries Network
Conclusions
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Developing countries consumers cannot afford to remain spectators in the
search and push for evidence anymore.
Involvement means that the needs and preferences of the consumer are
defined and not denied.
CCNet is the spring board for developing countries consumers.
The evidence in evidence-based health care may be much more evident as
more consumers get actively involved in the production and
dissemination of evidence.
Group Discussion
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How can we overcome the challenges?
How can we harness the opportunities?
What’s in a name? Consumers, users, patients, civil society, etc?