Month: September 2004

The Cochrane Users Award was established by the National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS), Australia’s national agency for helping close gaps between best available evidence and current clinical practice. Among winners in the second annual award were: the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO); and Dr Richard Murray, Medical Director, Population Health, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, WA. Winners were selected by a multidisciplinary judging panel that included a consumer representative.

The purpose of the award is to recognise health practitioners who make the best use of research evidence contained in the Cochrane Library, an online database of international scientific research which provides reliable evidence about the effects of health care. Dr Heather Buchan (CEO, NICS) reported that the Cochrane Reviews were increasingly being used to influence policy and practice internationally and the high level of entries indicated an exciting range of uses in Australia. Australians have free access to the Cochrane library after the Institute successfully negotiated, on behalf of the Australian Government, for a national licence to the library. Previously the database had only been available with a paid subscription which limited its use.

NACCHO was the major winner of the ‘Primary/Community Care’ category and also won a general category award. Its review of the management of otitis media was undertaken in response to significant clinical practice uncertainty about the treatment of ear infections in the Aboriginal population. Calls from Aboriginal leaders for a large scale clinical trial to improve the treatment for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), lead to a double-blind, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial, known as the NACCHO ear trial.

It was found that when compared with current Australian guidelines, fluoroquinolone-containing eardrops recommended in the Cochrane Library, were 47% more effective than those previously used by local practitioners. Mr Tony McCartney (NACCHO Chair) explained that NACCHO has recommended that Australian guidelines be changed to reflect the findings and encouraged pharmaceutical bodies and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to register topical fluoroquinolones as treatment for CSOM in Australia. Changes have already been made in Western Australia (WA).

A general category award went to Dr Richard Murray, Medical Director, Population Health, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, WA. The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council has been working to address the inconsistent clinical responses of health professionals to Aboriginal people, particularly in remote Australia. Dr Richard Murray and Dr Sophie Couzos are editors and contributing authors of the book, Aboriginal Primary Health Care: An Evidence-based Approach, Oxford University Press (now in its second edition), which cites over 80 Cochrane Reviews. The aim of the book is to support clinicians, public health providers and Aboriginal communities in applying effective evidence-based health interventions for health matters such as renal disease, diabetes, ear infections and rheumatic fever. This project has lead to the development of evidence-based initiatives, for example, the introduction of a Medicare rebate for a preventive health assessment in younger Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.

For further information about the awards contact:
Yasmin Standfield
Public Relations Officer
National Institute of Clinical Studies
Ph: 03 8866 0416
Mob: 0404 011 420

Kelly Ward
Public Relations Manager
National Institute of Clinical Studies
Ph: 03 8866 0415
Mob: 0407 860 834

For information on how to access and use the Cochrane Library, visit the National Institute of Clinical Studies website.