Virtual evidence: helping primary care practitioners access and implement evidence-based information

Abstract

e-STABLISH is a two-year pilot project funded by the UK’s NHS Executive (North West) to set up a Local Multidisciplinary Evidence Centre (LMEC) across Salford and Trafford district. The aim of e-STABLISH is to provide primary healthcare team members (PHCTs) and community staff based at 12 sites across the district with improved access to evidence-based information sources from their workplaces. During our first year (April 1998- March 1999) sites were linked and personnel trained - the second year will determine whether access to evidence-based information has been improved through an effective structure. The paper begins with an overview of the project, and then goes on to discuss its objectives in more detail, namely, the Information Technology infrstructure that has been set up, the training courses provided, and the library services that have been developed. We conclude with details of the major lessons learnt and evaluations that will be taking place.

Health informatics

“…The Centre for Clinical Effectiveness in Melbourne, set up in 1998, finds and evaluates the best available evidence in response to requests from clinicians. Meanwhile, a pilot project in the U.K., e‐STABLISH, provides improved access to evidence‐based information sources for primary healthcare workers in their workplaces (Farrell, Cunningham, Haigh, Irozuru, & Cuffin, 1999). The major barrier to practicing evidence‐based medicine in a survey of British GPs is lack of personal time (McColl, Smith, White, & Field, 1998).…”