Implementing research findings in developing countries

Editor—The paper on implementing research findings in developing countries sets out a clear framework for getting research findings into practice.¹ With the creation of systematic reviews and guidelines, and implementation programmes through workshops and published work, the framework is in line with the process in Western countries. However, one element that we would add is the development of skills to find and appraise the scientific evidence.

We know that on its own the dissemination of guidelines and other educational materials has only a small impact on practice² and that approaches have to be multifaceted to work. Yet for many parts of the developing world access to evidence will be through literature in one form or another, and there may be little opportunity for getting together with colleagues.

This means that the acquisition of skills to find and appraise evidence must be central to all programmes designed to help get research into practice. Even in the United Kingdom many clinical staff have not got the basic skills in finding and appraising evidence, and this is now being remedied through comprehensive educational programmes in many parts of the country. To ensure clinicians are equipped with skills to find and appraise evidence is an enormous challenge for developing countries, but it has to be tackled. Methods will have to be tailored to the particular needs of clinicians in developing countries and no doubt have to include distance learning techniques.