CAHE Affiliated Research Groups
Since its inception in 2003 the Centre for Allied Health Evidence has been focused on taking the message of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Allied Health to the world. As the first centre of its kind CAHE has been a leader in providing mentorship for international groups looking to further their work in the areas of evidence-based allied health. A part of this significant process has been the establishment and mentoring of CAHE affiliated research groups.
Centre for Evidence Translation, University of Stellenbosch
Evidence Synthesis Group Convenor: Quinette Louw
Mail Address: PO Box 19063
Tygerberg 7505
South Africa
Telephone Number: 2721 938 9300
Email: qalouw@sun.ac.za
Evidence Synthesis Group Members:
Quinette Louw
Dawn Ernsten
Lynette Crous
Jeanine Uwimana
In March 2006 CAHE Director
Professor Karen Grimmer-Somers visited South Africa to initiate
evidence-based training and provide academic support for senior researchers
and physiotherapy staff/students in the Departments of Physiotherapy,
Stellenbosch University. The purpose of the visit was to, up-skilling
clinicians and academics in current theory and practical application of
evidence.
CAHE has been working closely with Professor Quinette Louw, ESG Convenor
since she started as a PhD student. Quinette's dedication to improving
research endeavours at postgraduate and academic level in South Africa, and
to lifting the standard of research by improving research training, has
resulted in increasing publication rates and publication quality.
The University of Stellenbosch's Centre for Evidence Translation has been working with CAHE over the past two years as an Evidence Synthesis Group and has made significant achievements in the area of evidence-based allied health. Just one example of the type of work undertaken by this South African ESGs is the following protocol currently under review by JBI:
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The Effectiveness of treatment provided by physiotherapists in comparison with general practitioners in the management of acute low back pain in adults
Center for Research on Movement Science, University of Santo Tomas
Evidence Synthesis Group
Convenor: Janine Margarita R. Dizon (pictured)
Mail Address: Room 105 Center for Research on Movement Science
Thomas Aquinas Research Complex
University of Santo Tomas
Espana Manila, Philippines 1008
Telephone Number: +632-7409713 or +632-7861611 local 4035-4036.
Email: crms@mnl.ust.edu.ph or jrdizon@mnl.ust.edu.ph
Evidence Synthesis Group Members:
Janine Margarita R. Dizon, MSPT, PTRP
Consuelo B. Gonzalez-Suarez, MD, MSPT, PBRM
Michael Jorge N. Peralta, MSPT, PTRP
Josephine Joy B. Reyes, MPE
The University of Santo Tomas
Evidence Synthesis Group was the first ESG of CAHE. This ESG has
three protocols nearing completion from the original group of trainees, and
are almost ready for submission to the JBI reviewing process. From the new
batch of trainees another 3-4 protocols are anticipated, as well as a
Cochrane review. The Philippines ESG is a shining example of how being
linked with a JBI collaborating centre can increase capacity and improve
skills. The improved data searching skills held now by most of the allied
health staff in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santo
Tomas, has assisted the staff to gain access to a wider group of library
databases in the university than was available to them before, and to set
the benchmarks for research methodology for higher degree students across
the graduate school. The allied health staff and students now routinely
conduct systematic reviews of the relevant literature prior to undertaking
any research, and the undergraduate students work in groups to
constructively review the literature for training and clinical audit
purposes. The ability to understand about good and poor research, and to
have access to other academics around the world has increased the profile of
allied health research enormously in the Philippines, and has given the
staff at UST a sense of accomplishment on a world stage. Within a couple of
years, it is envisaged that the Philippines ESG will develop into a JBI
collaborating allied health centre in its own right, and thus assist in
spreading the word in evidence synthesis and translation for allied health
clinicians and researchers in Asia. Any group of allied health
researchers/clinicians with a desire to understand and undertake evidence
synthesis should contact CAHE to discuss what is entailed in becoming a JBI
ESG.
