Training and Webinars

This webinar, will describe how evidence from systematic reviews is used to inform National Clinical Guidelines (NCGs) and Health Technology Assessments (HTA) in Ireland.  NCGs are systematically developed statements, based on a thorough evaluation of the evidence. They are quality assured by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee and endorsed by the Minster of Health. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarizes information about a health technology, within HIQA these are undertaken to inform decisions on national-level programmes or investments e.g. recommending changing from cytology to HPV testing in CervicalCheck.

This webinar will introduce the frameworks underpinning decisions in NCGs and HTAs focusing on how findings from systematic reviews (including clinical effectiveness, qualitative assessments and cost-effectiveness) are incorporated. Following the webinar attendees will be able to describe the basic principles involved in developing evidence based recommendations for NCGs, and incorporating evidence from systematic reviews into a HTA.

Shelley O’Neill leads the HRB-CICER team based in the Health Technology Assessment Directorate at the Health Information and Quality Authority in Ireland. The HRB-CICER team independently reviews evidence and provide scientific support for the development, by guideline development groups, of the National Clinical Guidelines in Ireland. She joined HIQA in September 2010 and was previously the Senior Health Economist in the Health Technology Assessment Directorate. Previously she worked in the NHS in England in various roles including Health Intelligence Manager and as a Senior Public Health Analyst. She was also a research associate in medical statistics at the University of Cambridge. Shelley holds a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics and an MSc in Statistics, and an MSc in Health Economics and Health Policy.

Presenter: Shelley O’Neill
Date and time: Thursday 30th April at 12 pm (GMT)

Soo Downe, Professor of Midwifery Studies, BA (hons), RM, MSc, PhD, OBE

Soo worked as a clinical midwife between 1985 and 2000.  In 2001 she joined UCLan  where she is now the Professor of Midwifery Studies. Her main research focus is the nature of, and cultures around, normal birth. She is a Cochrane EPOC editor. She has been a co-author on papers in three Lancet Series (Midwifery, Stillbirth, and Reducing Caesarean Section). She has published over 150 peer reviewed papers, and has undertaken research using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods. With the team at UCLan she has undertaken qualitative evidence syntheses to inform and frame a range of WHO guidelines related to maternity care, and has also been part of a series of papers on undertaking QES reviews.

In this webinar, Soo will describe the synergistic development of QES techniques and WHO maternity care guidelines, as an example of how iterative methodological innovation can make a difference to the framing of ‘what counts’ in practice. It will also cover the further use of the results from QES reviews in implementation of guidelines into practice in a range of countries and settings.

Presenter: Prof Soo Downe
Date and Time: Thursday May 21st at 12 pm (GMT)

This workshop provides authors, at the beginning of the Cochrane systematic review process, with an in-depth understanding of how Cochrane reviews are structured. It offers an insight to the development of a Cochrane protocol, introducing participants to Cochrane methodology, search methods, data extraction and meta-analysis. This workshop also includes an introduction to RevMan software and its use during protocol development.

Skill level: Introductory

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision-makers and Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows who have identified a review topic and are ready to begin working on their protocol.

Prerequisites: Have a basic knowledge of health research. Are interested in learning more on the methodology of a review. Participants are requested to install the RevMan software and bring their laptop to the workshop.

Please note: If ESI cancels an event, participants will be refunded at 100%. If the event is rescheduled, registrants will have the opportunity to have 100% of their registration fee applied to the rescheduled event, or receive a full refund. Upon request by email, refunds for event withdrawal will be fully refunded. We advise during this time of uncertainty, to take out appropriate insurance for hotels / other travel or make refundable bookings.

This workshop provides authors, at the beginning of the Cochrane systematic review process, with an in-depth understanding of how Cochrane reviews are structured. It offers an insight to the development of a Cochrane protocol, introducing participants to Cochrane methodology, search methods, data extraction and meta-analysis. This workshop also includes an introduction to RevMan software and its use during protocol development.

Skill level: Introductory

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision-makers and Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows who have identified a review topic and are ready to begin working on their protocol.

Prerequisites: Have a basic knowledge of health research. Are interested in learning more on the methodology of a review. Participants are requested to install the RevMan software and bring their laptop to the workshop.

Please note: If ESI cancels an event, participants will be refunded at 100%. If the event is rescheduled, registrants will have the opportunity to have 100% of their registration fee applied to the rescheduled event, or receive a full refund. Upon request by email, refunds for event withdrawal will be fully refunded. We advise during this time of uncertainty, to take out appropriate insurance for hotels / other travel or make refundable bookings.