Cochrane research summaries aid in decision making and communicating with medical team

A woman with rheumatoid arthritis went to her doctor because she was experiencing flare-ups and her normal NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) weren’t helping. She knew that corticosteroids were an option, but she also had heard of some alarming side effects, especially osteoporosis. She wanted to know: Do corticosteroids work better than NSAIDs? What about the side effects?

As many savvy people with arthritis do, she checked on the Internet for information. At The Arthritis Society website, she was able to read a summary of research studies that was written in a short, clear way. The summary reported on research that showed people who had taken low-dose steroids had fewer painful joints than the people on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Also, it seems when people took steroids at low doses, their risk of side effects seemed acceptable, even with moderate and long-term use.

Armed with this knowledge she asked her doctor if she was a good candidate to try corticosteroids. The summary, written in plain language, helped her communicate with her doctor, and she left the appointment satisfied that day. She was able to make an informed decision.

Producing plain language summaries about the results of research is one way of closing the gap between what the research says and what actually happens in practice. When doctors and patients have the information they need in a language they can understand, it can lead to more informed decision-making and hopefully, better health.

At the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group, I am fortunate to be in a position to help bridge the gap between research and practice. As the Knowledge Translation Specialist, I work with a team of people to produce plain language summaries and convey the most important messages about treatments for conditions involving the muscles and bones. I am also involved in other projects to improve the way we present our messages to reach the maximum number of people.

Probably the most important part of my role is asking consumers to comment on research. When consumers comment on Cochrane reviews we have a great opportunity to make sure that the information and outcomes of interest to consumers are included. When consumers comment on Cochrane reviews, the final product is better and in turn, it helps other consumers use good quality information to make decisions.

Right now we have around 20 or more consumers active in the review process and in bringing Cochrane reviews to fellow consumers. The Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group works closely with consumer groups internationally and especially within Canada to make sure our reviews are relevant to people with musculoskeletal diseases. We also work with them to ensure that the results of our reviews reach the people who want them most.

If you have been looking for a way of becoming more involved with Cochrane or if you are in contact with other consumers who might benefit from knowing about new developments in research, I would love to hear from you. Your input is extremely valuable, and it might help another consumer make a well-informed decision some day.

Tamara Rader is the Knowledge Translation Specialist at the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group, Institute of Population Health. You may contact her at: trader@uottawa.ca