Trusted evidence.Informed decisions.Better health.

Are we asking questions that have already been answered?

Results from the Cochrane TAG prioritisation survey

Dr Nicola Lindson-Hawley

Managing EditorCochrane Tobacco Addiction GroupNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford

@cochraneTAG

SRNT-E 2016: Thursday 8th September

One of 53 topic specific Cochrane Review Groups worldwide

Carry out & manage systematic reviews of interventions for tobacco use & prevention

Not-for-profit. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded

Editorial base at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford

Established 1996. 2016 is our 20th anniversary!

Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (CTAG)

The Cochrane TAG 20th anniversary priority setting project (CTAG taps)

Funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research

AIMS

1. Raise awareness

2. Identify where further tobacco control & smoking cessation research is needed

3. Identify ways to effectively disseminate the findings of tobacco research

4. Identify specific goals for Cochrane TAG

Stakeholder involvement

Policy makers

Research fundersResearchers

Healthcare providers

Current & former smokers

Healthcare commissioners

1. Survey stage 1: Identifying uncertainties

2. Survey stage 2: Ranking uncertainties

3. Prioritisation workshop

- prioritise future research areas

- potential dissemination strategy

Project stages

Are the findings of tobacco

control research reaching

their intended audience?

If not, how can we ensure this happens?

Methods

Online survey- link disseminated to stakeholders via mailing lists, public health organisations, Twitter, Facebook, conferences, blogging

Respondents provided max. of 4 qs they would like to see answered by tobacco control research

Questions classified as unempirical, already answered and unanswered

Already answered = there is a Cochrane/other high quality systematic review or national/international guideline that already provides a robust conclusion

Decisions subjective, so all decisions were made, compared & discussed by at least 2 people independently

Identifying uncertainties

Identifying uncertaintiesResults

258 questions after duplicates removed

15 were non-empirical questions & 183 unanswered

60 already answered!

Examples of already answered questions Question Source of conclusion

What are the harms associated with tobacco smoking?

2004 Surgeon General's Report-The Health Consequences of Smoking

Is smoking cessation support delivered by pharmacists effective?

2016 NIHR HTA systematic review report

Do public smoking bans have an impact on the profits of businesses serving food and drink?

2006 Surgeon General’s Report-The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke

What is the most effective and cost-effective method to prevent uptake of tobacco use?

World Health Organisation webpage on tobacco control economics

Should undergraduates in medicine and nursing professions (including midwifery) who smoke be told that smoking is discouraged & provided with support to quit?

NICE smoking cessation in secondary care guidance

How effective is NRT for smoking cessation? Cochrane review: Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation

Our findings are not always

reaching our intended audience!

CTAG Taps workshop

Primary aim: build on survey findings & prioritise future research areas for CTAG

Secondary aim: how can we improve the dissemination of tobacco research

30 min round table discussion; 7 per table +1 facilitator

How can we improve dissemination?

Tailor the message Different channels for different audiences - comms strategy for each

People who need information most may not be accessing social media

Prioritise informing decision makers Reaching smokers is difficult, influencing decision makers mean the effects can

be felt more widely

Financial aspects need to be considered and communicated

Localise information- apply result to clinical setting i.e. NNT for their hospital

Have policy/commissioning reps involved in research process early

HP not always providing accurate information- build new evidence into CPD

Smoking cessation not taught at every medical school. Why?

Communicate directly with students

Educate health professionals

Find ways to engage the public A lot of disinformation- make findings exciting so media report accurately

Ensure plain language summaries are ‘plain’

Penetrate popular culture- storylines in soaps, media advocates, retweets

Inform the public about the research and recommendations process

Partner with others e.g. Royal Colleges to present evidence with actions

Make sure information provided appears feasible, e.g. takes into account cost effectiveness

Work with guideline developers & register as stakeholders to optimise chances of being included in guidance

Recruit PPI & clinical reps to ensure public facing materials are usable

Bridge research – implementation gap

Use already est. networks e.g. ASH & NCSCT email bulletins, e-cig groups

Make links with policy developers, Royal Colleges, Public Health England

Get on to journalists’ mailing lists

Use experts

Simplify the message More imagery and simplification in all publicity- use infographics

Circulate regular updates of research group’s activities/findings

Provide one page or 6-slide summary of research reports

Next steps….

Disseminate findings of anniversary project widely

Develop a Cochrane TAG specific dissemination strategy based on our findings

National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) is a partnership between the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Keele, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton and University College London. This presentation summarises independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

How to find out more or contact us Visit our website: http://tobacco.cochrane.org/

Tweet us: @cochraneTAG

Email us: nicola.lindson-hawley@phc.ox.ac.uk

Call us: +44 (0)1865 289 320

National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) is a partnership between the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Keele, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton and University College London. This presentation summarises independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.