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Byline: David. Campbell, Susan. Williams, Jill. Konkin, Isabella. White, Ian. Couper, Ruth. Stewart, Lucie. Walters Introduction: Rural doctors typically work in low-resource settings and with limited professional support. They are [...]

Objective: To identify, appraise, and synthesize studies of interventions to improve labor market outcomes of adults in developing countries with physical and/or sensory disabilities. Method: Systematic review methods, following Campbell Collaboration guidelines, were utilized. A comprehensive search was used to identify relevant studies published between 1990 and 2013, which were graded for study quality and a narrative approach used to synthesize the research evidence. Results: Fourteen studies covering a wide range of interventions met the inclusion criteria. Although individual studies reported improvements in outcomes, heterogeneity was high and studies were generally of poor methodological quality. Conclusions: There is a lack of high-quality research evidence to inform decision-making in this area. Stakeholders should be cautious when interpreting the results of the current evidence base.

To maximise the potential impact and acceptability of EIDM capacity building, there is a need for programmes to coordinate their remits within existing systems, playing both 'insider' and 'outsider' roles. Through a review of the South African evidence-policy landscape and analysis of a stakeholder event that brought together EIDM role players, this paper illustrates how one capacity-building programme navigated its position within the national evidence-policy interface. It identifies strategies for improving the acceptability and potential effectiveness of donor-funded EIDM capacity-building activities: understanding the evidence-policy interface, incorporating programmes into the decision-making infrastructure (being an 'insider'), whilst retaining an element of neutrality (being an 'outsider').

Decision makers' capacity to use evidence is a key component of evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) at a policy level. This paper describes a unique combination of EIDM workshops and mentoring to build decision makers' capacity to use evidence. It reflects how the deliberate design of sequential workshop and mentoring capacity-building activities enhanced programme effects and reports on the design features that we believe have most contributed to the observed effects. We have found that this combined approach is most effective when it is underpinned by a relationship-building theory of change and remains flexible and responsive to delivering on the needs of participants, and when it is delivered in a timely manner by partners who have been carefully paired with participants based on required expertise.

Disability is very common and yet not well understood within sub-Saharan African countries. There has been growing attention to the use of research evidence to improve social inclusion of persons living with disabilities. This article reports on a process that can be used to monitor and evaluate evidence databases to encourage improvements in website and content accessibility for people with disabilities. We examined five evidence communities' online databases by: (1) assessing the accessibility of these website databases; and (2) assessing the resources within these websites. Finally, we aimed to provide feedback from the evaluation to these evidence databases. We carried out a cross-sectional study of the online evidence databases using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - a universal standard for web content accessibility assessment. We assessed access to the databases using a purposive sample of 25 resources within them. Resources are meant to improve practice, policy and decision making for all, including people with disabilities. They include systematic reviews, reports and articles. Accessibility is being able to obtain, understand and use resources; addressing barriers that could hinder this is important. Even though these evidence databases are considered as enabling inclusion and diversity within the evidence ecosystem, their contents are not fully accessible to people with disabilities, and they only partially met the recommendations of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective use of public policy to reduce poverty and inequality in southern Africa requires an increased use of research evidence to inform decision making. There is an absence of clear evidence as to how best to encourage evidence-informed decision making, and how to build capacity among decision makers in the use of research. This paper proposes a demand-focused approach for increasing the use of evidence in policy, presenting strategies supporting "pull" activities and closer linkages and exchanges between producers and users. The paper shares for discussion a people-focused theory of change for building capacity to use research evidence amongst policy makers in southern Africa.

Objective: The primary aim is to explore rural clinicians' self‐reported knowledge, skills and attitudes in the decision‐making process for requesting aeromedical retrieval of patients with suspected appendicitis. A secondary aim is to understand the supports and barriers of rural clinicians experience in this clinical scenario. Setting: Clinician interviews conducted face‐to‐face in three rural hospitals in Central Queensland. Participants: Rural doctors and nurses. Design: A five‐part qualitative content analysis. Results: The majority of 44 participants identified the strong and effective teamwork. The decision to request aeromedical retrieval was a shared, joint process and identified a supportive collegial culture which supported the asking of questions and not expecting to have all the answers. Perceived barriers were lack of receiving clinicians understanding of transfer agreements, and data connectivity. Clinician pessimism was identified for perceived patient outcomes. Discussion Effective teamwork can nurture trust and collaboration across multiple health service roles. High job satisfaction may counter the physical isolation in some rural environments. Fragmentation of care is the unintended consequence of interhospital transfer and may impact rural clinicians' perception of patients' outcomes and hinder receiving clinicians' understanding of rural service limitations. Conclusion: Future work in the area of linked electronic medical records could remove a barrier for rural clinicians and improve their reflective practice by challenging their perception of definitive patient outcomes. Increased awareness by receiving clinicians of the limitation of rural services, may minimize communication barriers and thereby, improve timely patient care transfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To appraise information resources on newborn blood spot screening currently available for parents and health professionals internationally. Method: Health information on newborn blood spot screening was sourced internationally through the internet and, in the United Kingdom, through health service providers and support organisations. An appraisal tool was developed based on DISCERN criteria for evaluating information about patient treatment choices and UK National Screening Committee criteria for determining whether a screening programme should be implemented. Two researchers independently applied the appraisal tool to all the leaflets describing the heel prick, then discussed and resolved discrepancies. Results: The majority of leaflets supported the public health agenda by informing parents of the benefits of screening, including the significance of early detection and treatment for these conditions. Few leaflets, however, supported the informed choice agenda by mentioning either the limitations of screening, or choice, or by being easy to read. Conclusion: Most health information about newborn blood spot screening portrays it in a positive light, and relatively few leaflets address the difficulties openly. We recommend the use of criteria for high-quality patient information alongside topic or condition-specific guidelines as a starting point for developing patient information.