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ESPAG Public minutes - December 2019

Contents

Published: 16 January 2020

Version: 1.0 December 2019

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Evidence Synthesis Programme Advisory Group Meeting

Thursday 5 December 2019

Attendees:

Dr Phil Alderson, NICE representative
Professor Andrew Booth, Academic Advisor
Professor Martin Burton, Cochrane UK
Dr Tara Lamont, NIHR Dissemination Centre Representative
Professor Olivia Wu, Complex Reviews Support Unit
Dr Helen Bulbeck, PPI Representative
Mr Jonathan Kilworth, Social Care Representative
Dr Matt Ridd, NHS Representative (by teleconference)
Dr Vivian Welch, Campbell Collaboration

Observers:

Dr Kay Pattison, Department of Health and Social Care
Dr Julie Simpson, Scottish Government Health Directorates
Mr Toby Lasserson, Cochrane Deputy Editor in Chief

Secretariat:

Dr Martin Ashton-Key, (Chair – in absence of Professor Ken Stein’s), Scientific Director, NETSCC
Ms Sally Bailey, NETSCC & TARs representative
Mr Rob Squire, NETSCC
Mrs Sarah Harwin, NETSCC

Apologies:

Professor Ken Stein, Programme Director
Mr Michael Bowdery, Welsh Assembly Government
Professor Rachel Churchill, CRG Representative
Professor Jo Lord, Academic Advisor
Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, Cochrane Editor in Chief
Dr Gail Johnston, Health & Social Care R&D Division Northern Ireland
Ms Christine Holmes, Department of Health and Social Care

1a) Welcome and introductions

MAK welcomed everyone to the meeting and all individuals introduced themselves.

Apologies were noted as detailed above.

1b) Membership update

This was the last meeting for Helen Bulbeck and Tara Lamont, MAK thanked them on behalf of ESPAG for valuable their contribution.

MAK welcomed Dr Vivian Welsh, Dr Matt Ridd, Mr Jonathan Kilworth and Dr Julie Simpson who all begin their tenures on ESPAG.

1c) Minutes of 26 June 2019 meeting (paper 14-19)

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and accepted as an accurate record.

2a) SRPAG Terms of Reference (ToR) (paper 15-19)

Prior to discussing the ToR, SB updated the group that the ‘Systematic Reviews Programme’ has changed its name to ‘Evidence Synthesis Programme’.

RS introduced the updated ToR as a standing item on the December ESPAG agenda. The ToR cover the purpose, scope and membership of the group. It was highlighted it is a snapshot of today’s membership, therefore outgoing members are included. Only permanent member roles are listed within the ‘Membership’ section, rather than those that hold a time specific tenure.

It was agreed that the ToR should be amended to explicitly reference a consumer representative. Additionally, given the nature of the ESPAG discussions, a confidentiality sentence is to be included.

3a) Cochrane Programme Grants - future funding (papers 16-19 and 17-19)

Evidence Synthesis Programme Grants Funding - Paper 16-19

SH introduced the topic, inviting the group for their thoughts on the two options presented in paper 16-19. The change in name was highlighted and will be now called Evidence Synthesis Programme Grants (ESPG).

Draft Call Paper – paper 17-19

The draft call paper is to be re-worked following the above discussions. It was highlighted that comments on the language used, specifically around social care, would be welcomed.

The re-drafted call paper will be sent for approval of social care language used.

4a) NIHR Incentive Awards

SB introduced the topic and gave the background of Incentive Awards: small amounts of money to incentivise completing reviews.

Applications from the Campbell Collaboration were welcomed for the first time in this scheme. Fifty-two applications were received, an increase from the last three years where a range of 34-39 applications were received.

Eleven applications were initially funded. However, following approval to use a small underspend from Incentive Awards not completing in the previous year, 13 were funded, including two from the Campbell Collaboration.

A number of applications for complex reviews were received, which are hard to complete in nine months. The call for 2020 will be tightened up to encourage applicants to be more realistic of timelines. Some applications were light on describing the burden of disease and some missed dissemination plans. Applications need to be clear about their intended audience(s) and clarity on who would use this evidence should be included in future applications.

5a) Cochrane Reviews of NICE Priority – feedback on scheme from Network Associate Editors

TLAS informed the group their team have been really positive about being involved in this process. The team are particularly energised when they know how much of an impact the review will make.

The scheme formally ends March 2020, and as demand increases, careful management of what can be achieved in the remaining time is required.

6a) Network Support Fellow – update on initiative

TLAS introduced the item giving the background of eight networks, 52 CRGs with a NSF for each network.

Through innovation funding NSFs are looking at mapping research gaps to identify reviews relevant to public health.

The initiative has helped networks communicate better.

7a) Research Exercise Framework (REF) and Cochrane Reviews

KP highlighted the importance of continuing to promote systematic reviews as new research, with equal importance to primary research. The DHSC see this research as important for policy delivery and delivery of services across health and social care.

8a) Update from Cochrane UK (paper 18-19)

MB provided an update of the activity of Cochrane UK during the last 6-months. Highlights include the addition of an interactive glossary and addition of a Patient Experience and Patient and Public involvement in the weekly Evidently Cochrane; circulation of guidance to bloggers to provide a standardised approach for authors; development of a new database for the guideline dataset to allow CRGs to generate their own local reports on this data; the production of complex reviews, and what guidelines have been informed by them, including where authors are based to chart devolved nation contributions; increased media mentions; national extension of successful schools programme; contracting a patient and public coordinator to scope consumer focussed projects; and working with a Senior Public Health Fellow to develop and implement a programme to evaluation the Centre’s activities during 2020-2025.

MB, and his team, were congratulated on the richness of the report and it was suggested more be made of them in disseminating the information and marketing the work that Cochrane UK does. KP requested a PDF version of the report to enable dissemination with colleagues at DHSC. SB agreed to discuss with NIHR communications team to maximize opportunities.

9a) NIHR Dissemination Centre Update (paper 19-19)

TL provided an overview of all that the NIHR Dissemination Centre has achieved over the last five years.

Many successes were highlighted for the Centre, including the establishment and implementation of ‘Signals’. Signals are headline messages for professionals such as clinicians, managers and frontline staff. Another success has been the republishing initiatives with the BMJ and Nursing Times, whereby versions of Signals are republished in their online and paper editions.

10a) NIHR Complex Review Support Unit update (paper 20-19)

OW summarised that the unit are supporting a small number of non-Cochrane studies along with 10 Cochrane Programme Grants, all of which are very diverse.

The CRSU has provided training and workshops; the Cochrane Stroke Group has invited CRSU back to provide a further training day. A joint CRSU and Cochrane training session on network meta-analysis and diagnostic test accuracy was recently delivered. The day was well received, with maximum attendance, and attendees scored 4 or 5 out of 5 for usefulness. Additionally, the CRSU apps are being further developed and continue to be welcomed.

The nine months, no cost extension to March 2021 was welcomed and coincides with the completion of current Programme Grants. CRSU are starting to notify reviewers of the end date of the contract so they can consider support after March 2021 and manage expectation.

11a) Wider Cochrane updates

TLAS updated the group that due to the civil unrest in Chile, the Cochrane Colloquium was cancelled. A virtual colloquium was held on w/c 2 December, with all posters and presentations uploaded to the Cochrane website. It was observed that the virtual colloquium has reached a larger audience than would normally attend the colloquium. It has been well received and provided an excellent opportunity to promote Cochrane to new audiences. The future presentation of the colloquium is under consideration, due to the success of the virtual presentation, and in line with climate considerations.

The Methods Support Unit (MSU) has done a lot of work within their first year helping those using Risk of Bias 2 tool. It is considered a big methodological leap, and authors have required support in implementing it. The MSU do not want to disrupt the current relationship with the CRSU but are happy to expand their scope to provide additional support as the CRSU contract ends in March 2021.

Cochrane are updating their conflicts of interest policy, which will be published soon.

There is a policy being developed around fraud within clinical trials. KP highlighted that there is a paper on research integrity which she will share with TLAS.

Cochrane are implementing a new online tool for their editorial process, therefore expect to see more reviews being dealt with online, as opposed to offline as they currently are. The roll out of the new software will be staggered by network to avoid impacting funders and delivery.

12) AOB and close

None