Impacts of climate change on health and health systems: Producing evidence syntheses to support decision-making
Netzahualpilli Delgado-Figueroa, Cochrane Geographic Groups Executive
Soumyadeep Bhaumik, Meta-research and Evidence Synthesis Unit, The George Institute for Global Health
Miranda Cumpston, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Patricia Heyn, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Marymount Center for Optimal Aging
Maria-Inti Metzendorf, Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders, Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
Vanessa Piechotta, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
Nicole Skoetz, University Hospital of Cologne, Cochrane Haematology
Lisa Susan Wieland, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Esmeralda Alcaraz-Sanchez, Universidad de Guadalajara
Background The climate emergency is a pressing threat to human health and health systems. Members of the Cochrane community must bring our evidence synthesis expertise to the work of supporting effective decision making to adapt to or mitigate its impacts. Because of the multi-level and systemic challenge of this topic, relevant evidence is complex and heterogeneous. Synthesis of this evidence requires appropriate methods that incorporate interdisciplinary approaches. Objective To introduce participants to the knowledge and skills needed to conduct comprehensive and rigorous evidence syntheses on climate-health topics. Participants will gain an understanding of available relevant evidence synthesis methods and will be introduced to the skills needed to conduct their own syntheses. They will also have the opportunity to network with other researchers and practitioners working in the field. Description Overview of key concepts and terminology - Introduction to climate change and human health linkages - Adaptation and mitigation initiatives related to health and health systems Decisions related to conducting a review: - Framing the PICO question - Search strategies and selecting databases - Incorporating logic models/conceptual frameworks to link health and climate variables - Decisions about scope (lumping versus splitting) and levels of analysis - Addressing equity considerations - Establishing a review advisory board There will be facilitated small-group work sessions addressing specific issues for designing a protocol on a climate-health question. Participants can bring their own topics or work from sample topics provided by the facilitators. The workshop will conclude with a brief discussion of future methods needs for climate-health syntheses.
2Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Anhui Medical University; Nanjing Medical University; Queensland University of Technology, China & Australia
3Vanderbilt University Medical Center, United States
4Directorate of Public Health, NHS Highland, United Kingdom