How to apply the new guidance for plain language summaries for Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Reviews to an example review

Workshop category: 

  • Knowledge translation and communicating evidence
Date and Location

Date: 

Monday 17 September 2018 - 14:00 to 15:30

Location: 

Moffat
Contact persons and facilitators

Contact person:

Penny Whiting

Facilitators:

Whiting P1, Davenport C2, Santesso N3
1 University of Bristol, United Kingdom
2 University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
3 Cochrane Canada, GRADEing Methods Group, McMaster University, Canada

Acknowledgements:

Mustafa R1
1 University of Kansas Medical Center, USA
Target audience

Target audience: 

Review authors and consumers, in particular those working on or interested in DTA reviews

Level of difficulty: 

Basic
Type of workshop

Type of workshop : 

Training
Abstract

Abstract:

Background:
A plain language summary (PLS) is a stand-alone summary of a Cochrane systematic review and should provide rapid access to its content. A clear PLS is essential to ensure that systematic reviews are useful to users who are not familiar with the more technical content of the review.

Objectives:
To introduce the new guidance for plain language summaries for Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) reviews.

Description:
The workshop will be split into two sessions:

1) Introduction to the new PLS template:
The first session will be a brief overview of the process used to develop the PLS template and guidance. We will present the final version of the proposed PLS based on an example review of the IQCODE questionnaire for diagnosing dementia.

2) Piloting the new PLS template and guidance:
The second session will provide participants with the opportunity to apply the new template to an example review. We will split participants into smaller groups and each group will take sections of an existing review and translate these into plain language using the new template and guidance. We will then regroup to feed back the results to the wider group and to discuss any issues that arose during the process.

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

This project is very relevant to patients and consumers. It discusses how to present results of DTA reviews in plain language which means that these reviews will be more accessible to patients and consumers. We included a range of potential users in all stages of the development of this guidance including members of the public/consumers, journalists and clinicians. Patients and consumers are welcome to attend this workshop.