Activities used by evidence networks to promote evidence-informed decision-making in the health sector- a rapid evidence review.

BACKGROUND: Evidence networks facilitate the exchange of information and foster international relationships among researchers and stakeholders. These networks are instrumental in enabling the integration of scientific evidence into decision-making processes. While there is a global emphasis on evidence-based decision-making at policy and organisational levels, there exists a significant gap in our understanding of the most effective activities to exchange scientific knowledge and use it in practice. The objective of this rapid review was to explore the strategies employed by evidence networks to facilitate the translation of evidence into decision-making processes. This review makes a contribution to global health policymaking by mapping the landscape of knowledge translation in this context and identifying the evidence translation activities that evidence networks have found effective. METHODS: The review was guided by standardised techniques for conducting rapid evidence reviews. Document searching was based on a phased approach, commencing with a comprehensive initial search strategy and progressively refining it with each subsequent search iterations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement was followed. RESULTS: The review identified 143 articles, after screening 1135 articles. Out of these, 35 articles were included in the review. The studies encompassed a diverse range of countries, with the majority originating from the United States (n = 14), followed by Canada (n = 5), Sweden (n = 2), and various other single locations (n = 14). These studies presented a varied set of implementation strategies such as research-related activities, the creation of teams/task forces/partnerships, meetings/consultations, mobilising/working with communities, influencing policy, activity evaluation, training, trust-building, and regular meetings, as well as community-academic-policymaker engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence networks play a crucial role in developing, sharing, and implementing high-quality research for policy. These networks face challenges like coordinating diverse stakeholders, international collaboration, language barriers, research consistency, knowledge dissemination, capacity building, evaluation, and funding. To enhance their impact, sharing network efforts with wider audiences, including local, national, and international agencies, is essential for evidence-based decision-making to shape evidence-informed policies and programmes effectively.

Protocol for the PLAY Study: a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve infant development by encouraging maternal self-efficacy using behavioural feedback.

INTRODUCTION: The early infant caregiving environment is crucial in the formation of parent-child relationships, neurobehavioural development and thus child outcomes. This protocol describes the Play Love And You (PLAY) Study, a phase 1 trial of an intervention designed to promote infant development through encouraging maternal self-efficacy using behavioural feedback, and supportive interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 210 mother-infant pairs will be recruited at delivery from community clinics in Soweto, South Africa, and individually randomised (1:1) into two groups. The trial will consist of a standard of care arm and an intervention arm. The intervention will start at birth and end at 12 months, and outcome assessments will be made when the infants are 0, 6 and 12 months of age. The intervention will be delivered by community health helpers using an app with resource material, telephone calls, in person visits and behavioural feedback with individualised support. Every 4 months, mothers in the intervention group will receive rapid feedback via the app and in person on their infant's movement behaviours and on their interaction styles with their infant. At recruitment, and again at 4 months, mothers will be screened for mental health risk and women who score in the high-risk category will receive an individual counselling session from a licensed psychologist, followed by referral and continued support as necessary. The primary outcome is efficacy of the intervention in improving maternal self-efficacy, and the secondary outcomes are infant development at 12 months, and feasibility and acceptability of each component of the intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The PLAY Study has received ethical approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand (M220217). Participants will be provided with an information sheet and required to provide written consent prior to being enrolled. Study results will be shared via publication in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentation and media engagement. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This trial was registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za) on 10 February 2022 (identifier: PACTR202202747620052).

"But it's just paracetamol": Caregivers' ability to administer over-the-counter painkillers to children with the information provided.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether caregivers are able to make informed decisions about their families' use of over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers through access to and use of three mechanisms of information provision. METHODS: A cross sectional, face-to-face questionnaire was administered to 60 caregivers and seven pharmacists in Cape Town, South Africa. Caregivers answered questions related to paracetamol (acetaminophen) labels, inserts and Patient Information Leaflets (PIL). RESULTS: Most study caregivers received labels with the painkillers they purchased. Many pharmacists (43%) felt that the information provided was ineffective in preventing overdosing. Study caregivers found it difficult to understand the scientific terms in all three mechanisms of information provision. Most respondents (80%) found the PIL easiest to understand, yet few had received PILs with their purchase. Ten percent of literate respondents were unable to understand the dosage requirements for children. CONCLUSION: Most caregivers are not able to make informed decisions from the information provided with OTC painkillers. This is mostly attributable to limited provision of information and low health literacy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Written information with OTC medications in simple language and verbal counselling at dispensaries would play a significant role in increasing the health literacy of especially at risk populations of over-dosing their children.