CCInfo: Electronic news bulletin of The Cochrane Collaboration 9 August 2007 Contents: A. Steering Group – Election Results B. EPOC – new website C. Child Health newsletter – new issue D. Colloquium Updates E. Aubrey Sheiham Public Health and Primary Care Scholarship 2008 F. Oxford University Fall Workshops and Courses G. Job Ad – Research Associate H. Job Ad – Trial Search Co-ordinator I. Job Ad – Research Fellow J. Student Work Placements K. Next Issue of CCInfo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A. Sender: Claire Allen [CAllen@cochrane.org] Subject: Steering Group Election Results Please note, and forward to the members of your entity, the following results of this year's elections to The Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group: Representing CRGs ('at large' position): Zbys Fedorowicz (Bahrain) - re-elected for a second term. Representing the Consumer Network: Liz Whamond (Canada) – elected unopposed. Representing Fields: Katrina Williams (Australia) – elected unopposed. Representing Centres: Lisa Bero (USA) and Rob Scholten (Netherlands) – both re-elected for a second term, and elected unopposed. Liz and Katrina will join the Steering Group for three years at the Annual General Meetings during the São Paulo Colloquium, on 24 October 2007 at 6.00 p.m. Congratulations to those who have been elected, commiserations to the other candidates. Thanks to Pete Hughes, who acted as my co-electoral officer and checked my counting of the votes. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B. Sender: Doug Salzwedel [dsalzwed@uottawa.ca] Subject: Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group launches new website We are pleased to announce the release of the new website for EPOC, the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Review Group! Please bookmark www.epoc.cochrane.org and update any links you may have on your website. The focus of EPOC is on reviews of interventions designed to improve professional practice and the delivery of effective health services. This includes various forms of continuing education, quality assurance, informatics, financial, organisational and regulatory interventions that can affect the ability of health care professionals to deliver services more effectively and efficiently. The site includes training guides and tools for EPOC review authors, links to EPOC protocols and systematic reviews, background on the scope of the group, an online form for anyone interested in joining EPOC, job postings, and information about the development of the EPOC specialised register. For more information about the EPOC website, please contact Doug Salzwedel (dsalzwed@uottawa.ca). XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX C. Sender: Krystal Harvey [krystal.harvey@ualberta.ca] Subject: Child Health newsletter – new issue Please visit the Cochrane newsletter page for the latest news from the Child Health Field: www.cochrane.org/newslett/index.htm XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX D. Sender: Melissa Mann [cochrane.colloquium@bireme.org] Subject: Cochrane Colloquium - Updates The Fifteenth Cochrane Colloquium in Brazil is pleased to update you on the following: Early registration deadline extended Please note the deadline for early registration has been moved to August 15. We encourage you to take advantage of the extension! A Few Notes Regarding the Program a) The final workshop schedule, which includes 60 fascinating topics grouped into six main areas, has been finalized. It should be up on the website, with accompanying summaries, next week. A public thank-you to Julian Higgins for his efforts. b) Participants in the football/soccer game are being confirmed. We are expecting famous members from the Brazilian National Team from the 1970 - 1986 World Cups, including: Sócrates, Júnio, Wladimir, Cajú, Juninho Fonseca and others. Category Addition Colloquium participants will be happy to see the option for “accompanying person registration”. Those traveling with a spouse, partner or family member are encouraged to consider this option to ensure the accompanying party’s participation in social events. Air Safety The concerns expressed regarding air safety are quite understandable given the recent horrible plane crash. The Local Organizing Committee would like to assure everyone on a few points. Firstly, all international flights to and from São Paulo use the international airport (Guarulhos), which is not where the accident occurred (Congonhas). Secondly, the airlines to be used by all international participants certainly will not be the local airline involved in the accident. Thirdly, it is the Organizers’ opinion that, while tragedies occur, they certainly are not the norm in this wonderful country. All of us here are shaken up by the events but are aware that the problem arose either from airline/plane problems or from the runway, neither of which will affect any Colloquium participants. Questions You may address all questions to the Local Organizing Committee at: cochrane.colloquium@bireme.org XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX E. Sender: Nicola McDowell [NMcDowell@cochrane.co.uk] Subject: Aubrey Sheiham Public Health & Primary Care Scholarship Applications are invited for The Aubrey Sheiham Public Health and Primary Care Scholarship. This is a three-month scholarship offered annually by The Cochrane Collaboration to health workers, consumers and researchers living in low- or middle- income countries as defined at http://www.worldbank.org/data/countryclass/classgroups.htm. The aim of the Scholarship is to enable the development of skills in preparing systematic reviews of healthcare interventions within The Cochrane Collaboration. The Scholarship is awarded for work on a topic related to public health or primary health care. Applicants must have agreed to a review topic before 31 July 2007 with the relevant Cochrane Review Group. The Aubrey Sheiham Scholar spends the three-month Scholarship period in Oxford. The Scholar is based at the UK Cochrane Centre in Oxford for the duration of the Scholarship, and resides in free accommodation provided by The Cochrane Collaboration. The Scholar is expected to prepare a Cochrane Review during the tenure of the Scholarship and, upon returning home, to maintain the review and undertake to train other prospective review authors in Cochrane methods. Application deadline: Wednesday, 19 September 2007 More information and application requirements can be found at www.cochrane.org/docs/Fellowshipsandscholarships.htm#ASPHPCS Further enquiries and completed applications to: Nicola McDowell Training Co-ordinator, UK Cochrane Centre, Summertown Pavilion, Middle Way, Oxford OX2 7LG United Kingdom Fax: +44 (0)1865 516311 Email: nmcdowell@cochrane.co.uk XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX F. Sender: Avril Anson [avril.anson@continuing-education.oxford.ac.uk] Subject: Oxford University Fall Workshops and Courses Blended-learning course: Patient Based Evidence Dates: 24 September to 5 October 2007 (online component) plus 15-18 October 2007 (face-to-face component) Location: Online and Oxford University Course Director: Sophie Staniszewska This course is for anyone who wishes to develop an understanding of patient-based evidence and patient reported outcome measurement, particularly in relation to health- related quality of life and patient satisfaction. Those could include clinicians, managers, researchers, policy makers, individuals from voluntary organisations and patient groups, and those individuals within national agencies leading programmes of work related to patient involvement and patient evidence. Full details, and an application form, see www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cpd/healthsciences/courses/short_courses/PBE/. 5-day course: Randomised Controlled Trials Dates: 24, 26, 28 September and 3, 4 October 2007 Location: Oxford University Course Director: Mike Clarke, Director of the UK Cochrane Centre The course aims to help participants with the practicalities of conducting randomised trials. This includes the processes for resourcing the trial, recruiting and randomising participants, maintaining the trial's momentum, and analysing and reporting it. Details, and an application form, can be found at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cpd/healthsciences/courses/short_courses/RCT/. This course fills up very quickly. If you can’t make the dates, the course may run again in summer 2008 - please email cpdhealth@conted.ox.ac.uk to register your interest. 5-day course: Ethics in Health Care Dates: 25, 28 September and 2, 5, 12 October 2007 Location: Oxford University Course Director: Donald Hill, Ethics and Communication in Health(Ethox) The syllabus covers aspects of ethical theory and relates them to health-care and to specific topics within that, such as consent, autonomy, resource allocation, and issues at the beginning and end of life. Full details and an application form can be found at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cpd/healthsciences/courses/short_courses/Ethics/. 5-day course: Qualitative Research Methods Dates: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 October 2007 Location: Oxford University Course Director: Susie Page There is increasing recognition that the use of evidence to improve health care is influenced by a wide range of social factors. The quality of communication between clinician and patient, and the patient’s understanding of treatment options can influence the choice of treatment. This course explores the ways in which research projects can be designed to explore these issues. Details, and an application form, can be found at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cpd/healthsciences/courses/short_courses/QRM/. 2-day workshop: Qualitative Systematic Reviews in Health & Social Care Revised Date: Now early November 2007 (we had floods in July so had to postpone!) Location: Oxford University Full details can be found at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cpd/healthsciences/courses/short_courses/QSR and a registration form can be downloaded from www.conted.ox.ac.uk/cpd/healthsciences/courses/short_courses/QSR/register.asp. Any inquiries about the foregoing courses can be directed to Erin.snape@conted.ox.ac.uk XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX G. Sender: Alain Mayhew [amayhew@uottawa.ca] Subject: Job Ad – Research Associate Position: Research Associate (Systematic Reviewer) Organisation: Institute for Health and Society, Newcastle University Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Application deadline: 14 August 2007 Contact: Ms Jan Legge, Institute of Health & Society, 21 Claremont Place, Newcastle upon Tyne (Janice.Legge@ncl.ac.uk) Web: www.ncl.ac.uk/vacancies/vacancy.phtml?ref=A972R XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H. Sender: Helen Collins [Helen.Collins@ndm.ox.ac.uk] Subject: Job Ad – Trial Search Co-ordinator Position: Trial Search Co-ordinator Organisation: The Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group Location: Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Details: We are seeking to appoint a Trial Search Co-ordinator to be responsible for providing trial search support for review authors and electronic searching/updating of the group’s Specialized Register, to include the design of highly sensitive search strategies. You will be required to write new reviews as determined by Review Group strategy and actively contribute to the writing and analysis phases of updating reviews. You will also co-ordinate, recruit and train for all hand-searching activities. You will be educated to degree level or equivalent with an additional qualification in librarianship or information science, or equivalent. You should have excellent computer skills, including the ability to use bibliographic databases and software. You will have excellent communication and organization skills, and have an analytical approach. You will also have a proven ability to accurately extract and analyse numerical information. Application deadline: Friday 7 September 2007 Contact: An application form and a job description are available from the Personnel Administrator, Room 5802, Nuffield Dept of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU (tel: 01865 221325, email: personnel@ndm.ox.ac.uk or from the web site http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/ndmjr/about/jobvacancies. Please quote the reference HB-07-063-HC. Salary scale for University Staff Grade 6. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I. Sender: Liz Bickerdike [Liz.Bickerdike@lshtm.ac.uk] Subject: Job Ad – Research Fellow Position: Research Fellow Organisation: Peninsula Medical School Location: Exeter, UK Details: Applications are invited for a Research Fellow for a National Institute of Health Research funded systematic review programme, updating Cochrane reviews and conducting new reviews focusing on Public Health and Prevention (primary and secondary) in relation to heart disease, working closely with the Cochrane Heart Group. It is essential that applicants have previously undertaken systematic reviews, and have excellent writing and inter-personal skills. Experience in quantitative evidence synthesis is desirable. Application deadline: 31 August 2007 Contact: For an informal discussion about this post please contact: Dr Rod Taylor at rod.taylor@pms.ac.uk Web: For application and job description please visit the job vacancies section of the PMS website www.pms.ac.uk, ref. no. EO801/PMS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX J. Sender: Philip Rose [P.Rose@ioe.ac.uk] Subject: Student work placements in systematic research synthesis The EPPI-Centre at the Social Science Research Unit (SSRU), Institute of Education (IOE), University of London, is accepting applications for a small number of paid work placements for students interested in systematic research synthesis and evidence informed policy and practice. These work placements will consist of supervised work for between 20 and 30 hours alongside SSRU staff on current EPPI-Centre research projects. They will be of particular interest to students taking the IOE's new MSc in Evidence for Public Policy and Practice for the academic session 2007-8. Further information: Please visit our website: (http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk) or Telephone: +44(0)20 7612 6397; or Email: Karen Bird (k.bird@ioe.ac.uk); XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX K. Sender: Cheryl Arratoon [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Subject: Next Issue of CCInfo The next issue of CCInfo will be published 23 August 2007. Please submit your items to cochrane@uottawa.ca and please include "CCInfo" in the subject line. Unless you request otherwise, your submissions to the CCInfo may be duplicated in other regular Cochrane Collaboration news channels such as Cochrane News and the Cochrane Collaboration web site, at the discretion of the editors. regards, Cheryl Cheryl Arratoon Knowledge Broker Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre 1 Stewart St (227) Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 Email: cochrane@uottawa.ca Web: www.ccnc.cochrane.org XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the CCInfo list, please go to http://lists.cochrane.org/mailman/listinfo/ccinfo, or contact the Editor at cochrane@uottawa.ca