Developing strategic foresight and quality reviews: insight from the HRB

Information specialists at the Health Research Board will give an introduction to the concept of strategic foresight; and improving search strategy development and reporting for better evidence.

Agenda

10:00 am Welcome

10:05 Managing uncertainty through strategic foresight

Strategic foresight is an approach to planning and policymaking that attempts to manage uncertainty. It does that this by using a variety of tools to identify possible threats and opportunities in the medium or long-term. This is not prediction but an attempt to develop an information resource that helps with decision making in the present. Engaging in foresight work develops anticipatory capacity and enables a more active role in supporting policy making and mobilising joint action.

Brian Galvin — manages the HRB National Drugs Library and is editor of Drugnet Ireland, the HRB’s quarterly drugs research and policy bulletin.

10:40 Improving search strategy development and reporting for better evidence

The IS team will discuss how you can improve your search strategy development and reporting, ensuring your contribution to the review is to a high standard

• using PRESS peer review of search strategies to improve your search strategy and choice of search resources

• using available guidance for searching for systematic reviews, scoping reviews and rapid reviews (Cochrane, JBI etc)

• using established quality assessment tools (AMSTAR, JBI for Systematic Reviews) to guide search decisions

• using reporting standards (PRISMA-S) to guide search decisions and reporting

Coffee break 11:45 – 12:00

12:00 Guidance on terminology, application, and reporting of citation searching: using the TARCiS statement, and tools that can help.

12:45 A day in the life of – it’s not all systematic searches and PRISMA flow charts!

The IS team will give a short presentation on the scope of the role of information specialist in the HRB Evidence Centre. Information specialists typically work on a range of evidence products, from inception to publication.

We work with a range of research teams and are responsible for the quality of the search strategy, oversight and management of review management software, and writing and presenting on search methods as part of the finished product.

What is a typical day for us? Join us to find out what it looks like!

Ailish Farragher — Having joined the HRB Evidence Unit in 2020, Ailish has welcomed the opportunity to support evidence-based policy through her work as an information specialist on systematic reviews and evidence briefs. Ailish has previously worked in a range of specialist libraries including the Department of Finance, the RTÉ Television Library, and spent twelve years as the legal information centre manager of a commercial law firm.

Louise Farragher — is an information specialist with over 20 years’ experience in health libraries. She currently leads a team of information specialists in the HRB’s Evidence Centre, providing specialist information support and expertise across the full range of evidence review and related evidence products. Louise has a particular interest harnessing machine learning and tools to improve review efficiency.

Caítriona Lee — is an information specialist with the Evidence Centre of the Health Research Board, working with the evidence team to research and produce systematic reviews for the Department of Health. Her professional background includes over ten years working as a reader services and reference librarian with one of Ireland’s children’s hospitals and several years working as a medical information specialist with Thomson Scientific.

13:00 Light lunch/ networking

13:30 Close