早期介入プログラムによって早産児の心身の発達を改善できるか？ 要点 早産児に対して行われる早期介入プログラムは乳幼児期（0歳から3歳まで）の心身の発達を改善し、就学前の年齢（3歳から5歳まで）における精神機能の発達を改善する可能性がある。 就学期（5歳以上18歳未満）における心身の発達に関しては、質の高いエビデンス（科学的根拠）が不足している。 この分野で今後行われる研究では、出生後1年間における介入は子どもの年齢が上がってからも有効かどうかに焦点を当てるべきである。 早産児に介入が必要なのはなぜか？ 早産児（妊娠37週未満）は、思考能力や学習能力の遅れや、座ったり、歩いたり、手を使ったりするのが遅い（身体機能の発達の遅れ）などの発達障害がある可能性が高い。 早期介入プログラムとは何か？ 早期介入プログラムの目的は、早産児に発達を支援して改善する活動をさせることによって、早産児の精神・身体機能の発達障害を軽減することである。介入には、小児、親子の関係、またはその両方に焦点を当てたものがあり、さまざまな形の理学療法および心理療法が含まれうる。 調べたかったこと 調べたかったのは、早産児に対して早期介入プログラムを実施すると、小児期を通じて精神機能および身体能力が改善されるかどうかである。 また、さまざまなタイプの介入の間で、より有効性が高いものがあるかも知りたかった。たとえば、 ‐...

Monday, February 12, 2024

褥瘡の予防や治療に最も有益な食事やサプリメントはどれか、また、望ましくない影響はないか。 要点 - 確固としたエビデンス（科学的根拠）がないため、褥瘡の予防および治療に対するほとんどの食事やサプリメントのベネフィット（有益性）および望ましくない影響は不明である。 - エネルギー+タンパク質+微量栄養素、タンパク質+アルギニン+亜鉛+抗酸化物質、アルギニン+微量栄養素コラーゲンの補充は、褥瘡の治癒には標準的な食事だけよりも良いかもしれない。 - 褥瘡の予防および治療に対する栄養学的介入の真の影響を明らかにするためには、より多くのサンプルを用い、同じ転帰をより長い追跡期間で調査する、より多くの良質な研究が必要である。 栄養学的介入とは何ですか？ 栄養学的介入とは、一般的な健康状態や特定の状態を改善するために、通常の食事に加えて特別な食事や補助食品を加えることである。カロリー、マクロ栄養素（タンパク質など）、微量栄養素（ビタミンやミネラルなど）の補充などがこれに相当する。経口または経管（経管栄養と呼ばれる）で投与される。また、点滴や注射（非経口栄養）によって投与することも可能である。 褥瘡のある人や褥瘡を発症するリスク（危険）のある人にとって、なぜ栄養が重要であるのか 褥瘡は、床ずれ、褥瘡性潰瘍とも言う。圧迫、剪断（ずれ）、摩擦によって皮膚や皮下組織、あるいはその両方が傷害されるもので...

A new report jointly published by the AllTrials campaign, Cochrane Denmark, Cochrane Norway, Cochrane Sweden, the Dam Foundation, Melanomföreningen, and TranspariMED found that 475 clinical trials involving 83,903 patients completed during 2016-19 in Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden have never made their results public in any form. This accounted for 22% of all clinical trial results across the five countries.

In cases where clinical trial results were made public, there was often a delay in publication. The report found that only 27% of all trials results were made public, in either registries or in journals, within 12 months. Within two years of study completion, only around half of the results were available to the public.

Not only is this lack of transparency in clinical trials a waste of increasingly scarce public funding, it harms patients and leaves gaps in medical evidence. This makes it very difficult to determine how safe and effective treatments actually are.

Nordic countries have recently changed regulations that require institutions to make the results of drug and device trials public on registries within 12 months of completion. While clinical trials which ended in the years prior to 2023 are not included in this legislation, both the Declaration of Helsinki and World Health Organization have clearly stated for years that the timely public sharing of results is an ethical obligation.

Matteo Bruschettini, Director of Cochrane Sweden, who co-authored the report, said:  “At Cochrane we highly value that findings of all studies become available. Otherwise, the synthesis of the evidence misses information thus resulting in misleading conclusions. This ultimately impacts the patients, clinicians and policy makers who need to make decisions based on a distorted picture of the evidence. This report should encourage initiatives to deal with this issue of medical research waste in the Nordic countries.”

The report calls for policy makers in Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden to adopt national legislation requiring that the results of all clinical trials are made public and to set up monitoring mechanisms. It also calls for national medicines regulators and research funders to put in structures to prevent research waste and ensure that clinical trial results are made public. This is in line with WHO recommendations which urged ethics committees, regulatory authorities, professional bodies, sponsors, investigators, and funding agencies to act in their jurisdictions to ensure results from all clinical trials are reported and publicly disclosed.

The report has already received attention in Swedish media.

Cochrane will continue to advocate for improved clinical trial transparency, and will monitor progress in these countries with interest.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

統合失調症の人に対する抗精神病薬を使わない認知行動療法 要点 - 統合失調症の人に対する薬物療法を伴わない認知行動療法（CBT）について、強固な結論を出すには十分な情報がない。 - 統合失調症の人に対する薬物療法を伴わないCBTの有効性と安全性については、さらなる研究が必要である。 背景 統合失調症は深刻な精神疾患である。この病気の人は、自分の考えや信念、思いと現実を区別するのに苦労している。例えば、頭の中で声が聞こえていても、本当に誰かに話しかけられているように感じられることがある。CBTは抗精神病薬と併用することで、統合失調症の症状を治療するのに有効な心理的介入である。しかし、これらの薬物を使わずにCBTを行った場合、効果的で安全かどうかはまだ不明である。抗精神病薬の使用はしばしば好ましくない副作用を伴うので、このことを知ることは重要である。 調べたかったこと 統合失調症の人に対して薬物療法を使わずにCBTを行うことが有効かどうか、また安全かどうかを確かめたかった。 実施したこと 抗精神病薬を使わずにCBTを行った場合と、特別な治療を行わなかった場合、抗精神病薬を投与した場合、CBTと抗精神病薬を併用した場合を比較した研究を検索した。 研究結果を比較、要約し、研究方法や研究規模などの要因に基づいて、エビデンスに対する信頼性を評価した。 わかったこと その結果、300人の統合失...

固定式歯科矯正装置において最初に用いるアーチワイヤーとして最適なものは何か？ 要点 1．エビデンスが限られているため、最適なイニシャルアーチワイヤーの素材やサイズについては未だ不明である。 2．大規模かつ綿密に計画された研究が必要である。また、アライメントの速度や有害事象について評価を行う必要がある。 固定式矯正装置とは何か？ 歯科矯正治療は、叢生（乱ぐい歯）、捻転（ねじれ）、埋伏（生えてこないこと）、あるいは突出（出っ歯）などを矯正することを目的としている。一般的に、歯科矯正治療を受けるのは、青少年または成人である。固定式矯正装置とは、歯に接着させたブラケットをワイヤー（アーチワイヤー）で連結させたもので、歯に力をかけることで歯の傾きを直したり、移動させたりすることができる。 イニシャルアーチワイヤーとは何か？ イニシャルアーチワイヤーとは、歯科矯正治療の最初にブラケットに装着されるワイヤーのことである。1970年代以降、いくつかの新しいタイプのイニシャルアーチワイヤーが開発され、種々の特性を示し、それぞれのメーカーは歯列のアライメント（歯の並びを整えること）対する有益性を主張している。イニシャルアーチワイヤーの新素材には、さまざまな組成のニッケルチタン合金がある。 何を調べようとしたのか？ 叢生や捻転した歯に対する矯正治療に最適なイニシャルアーチワイヤーの種類を探すことを試み...

Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £42,000 per Annum  
Location: (Remote – Flexible) UK, Germany, Denmark. Candidates anywhere from the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries.
Directorate: CEOO
Closing date: 18 February 2024
 
Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into four directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

As a Manager within Cochrane’s Central Executive Team, you will support Cochrane’s Geographic Groups, Networks, and Fields, play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable development, coordinating activities, and enhancing accountability frameworks. This position focuses on fostering collaboration, overseeing communication, and promoting growth within Cochrane’s global networks.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.  

You can expect: 

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.  
• A flexible work environment  
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply,
• The deadline to receive your application is 18th Feb, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Friday, February 2, 2024 Category: Jobs

Friday, February 2, 2024

Friday, February 2, 2024

Last week, Cochrane participated in the 154th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board meeting in Geneva.

The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified representatives from different Member States, elected for three-year terms. Every January, the Executive Board meets at WHO headquarters to discuss global public health priorities for the year ahead and set the agenda for the World Health Assembly.

In addition to the Executive Board, all Member States and civil society organizations in official relations with WHO, such as Cochrane, are given the opportunity to contribute. This provided our delegation a great platform to advocate for evidence-based health policy. 

The session began with an opening statement by WHO Director-General. He highlighted the key achievements of the previous year, including the landmark decision to include life-changing treatments for multiple sclerosis drugs in the Essential Medicines List, which Cochrane Multiple Sclerosis and Rare Diseases of the CNS played a key role in.

WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work (GPW14) was a major focus of this year’s meeting. GPW14 is a medium-term strategy agreed by Member States and will defines the direction of WHO’s work (including on evidence-based health) for 2025-28, with the goal to promote, provide, and protect health. 

Emma Thompson, Cochrane’s Advocacy and Partnerships Lead, made a statement in front of Member States and WHO’s Director-General, speaking on behalf of Cochrane in applauding the draft GPW’s recognition of WHO’s science and evidence-based leadership, particularly highlighting the importance of high-quality evidence in health decision making. 

In addition to the official planned activities at the Executive Board meeting, Cochrane’s delegation used the opportunity to meet with several different WHO departments to discuss plans for Cochrane’s Scientific Strategy, which is currently in development, and opportunities for our next joint workplan.

Our delegation had many productive conversations with key individuals and teams on how Cochrane and WHO can continue to work together to address global public health priorities in the coming years. Supported by our years of relationship building, collaboration and advocacy, we held meetings with many WHO teams, covering a wide range of portfolios including maternal, newborn and child health; essential medicines; malaria, tropical diseases; nutrition; clinical trials; guidelines; health emergencies; and science. 

Another key highlight of the week was a meeting between Cochrane’s Editor-in-Chief, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, and the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr Jarbas Barbosa and Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, PAHO Assistant Director. During the meeting, they discussed collaboration between Cochrane and PAHO, which is underpinned by a new memorandum of understanding and Dr Soares-Weiser highlighted Cochrane’s enthusiasm for the formalisation of this partnership.

• Find out more about the 154th session of the Executive Board

Thursday, February 1, 2024 Category: The difference we make

Today marks the official opening of registration for attendance at the second Global Evidence Summit (GES) 2024. Organized by the world’s leading organizations in evidence synthesis and evidence-based practice, including Cochrane, JBI, Guidelines International Network (GIN), and The Campbell Collaboration, the summit is set to take place in the historical city of Prague, Czech Republic, from 10 to 13 September 2024, with satellite meetings on 9 September 2024.

The GES is intended as a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural event to exchange ideas about how we best produce, summarise and disseminate evidence to inform policy and practice, and using that evidence to improve people’s lives across the world. The summit will feature plenary keynote speakers, special sessions with panel experts, and traditional conference elements like posters and oral presentations. There will also be a robust social program to make sure there are plenty of opportunities to network and have conversations across sectors, such as health, education, social justice, the environment, and climate change. The programme domains include:

• Sustainable development agenda
• Research integrity & making evidence accessible
• Power of synergy in evidence & synthesis products
• Evidence translation & implementation
• Advocating for greater evidence communication & use of evidence
• From global evidence to local impact 

Miloslav Klugar, Chair of the Scientific and Local Organising Committee, extends a warm welcome:

“On behalf of our organising partners, I invite you all to join us for the eagerly anticipated 2nd Global Evidence Summit. You belong at GES! It’s a unique gathering of research and scientists, policymakers and managers but also students, consumers and activities, and patients and caregivers. This is a unique opportunity for people across the globe to get involved in evidence-based practice, with a shared mission to provide a platform to discuss critical issues across different sectors, including health, education, social justice, the environment and climate change.”  

Catherine Spencer, Cochrane's CEO, emphasizing the significance of the GES in fostering synergies and knowledge sharing within the global evidence community:

" I encourage the Cochrane Community to take advantage of Early Bird Registration for the 2nd Global Evidence Summit. Your participation will not only enrich your knowledge but also contribute to a global movement towards impactful, evidence-informed decision-making. Let's unite for #GES2024 and contribute to advancing evidence-based practice globally! We look forward to seeing you there!"

 

Early-bird registration is now open until 13 June. Standard registration is open until 14 August with late/onsite registration available. We also offer discounts to those from low-income economies as well as patients/consumers and students.

• Visit the GES website
• Learn more about registration
• Registration form

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Monday, January 29, 2024

治療や検診についての決断に直面している患者を支援するための意思決定ガイド 本レビューの論点 成人患者の治療や検診に関する意思決定において、意思決定ガイドはどの程度有効、あるいは有益か？ 要点 - 意思決定ガイドとは、対面またはオンラインで使用されるパンフレットあるいはビデオである。意思決定ガイドは、患者の医療に対する意思決定を明確にし、選択肢に関する情報（有益性と有害性）を提供し、患者自身にとって何が最も重要かを明らかにするために役立つ。また、意思決定ガイドは、医師とのコンサルテーションを強化、補完するためのものであり、それを代替するものではない。 - 200件以上の研究から、意思決定ガイドは、有益性と有害性に関する知識と見通しを向上させ、患者自身にとって最も重要なことを反映した選択肢を選ぶことで、成人患者における健康上の意思決定へのより深い関与に有用であることが示された。 - 意思決定ガイドを使用した成人に有害事象はみられなかった。 意思決定ガイドとは何か？ 意思決定ガイドは、現状維持（何もしない）を含めた複数の選択肢がある場合に、患者が意思決定を行う際における指針となる。意思決定ガイドは、パンフレット、ビデオ、またはインターネットによる情報であり、意思決定について述べ、選択肢を説明し、どの選択肢が患者自身にとって最も重要であるかを考える手助けをするものである。比較となる通常の...

Specifications: Fixed term (2 years), 0.6 FTE
Salary:  £35,000 pro-rata
Location: (Remote – Flexible) Candidates anywhere from the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries.
Closing date:  6 February 2024 

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into four directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Consumer Support Officer will work closely with Cochrane’s Consumer Engagement Officer to support the involvement of consumers (patients, carers and the public) in the Wellcome-funded GALENOS project, including in systematic reviews about mental health topics. Support of consumers in this work will involve connecting consumers with lived experience of mental health challenges to researchers, developing learning resources to support consumer involvement in systematic reviews, and generally promoting patient and public involvement in the systematic review space.  

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.  

You can expect: 

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.  
• A flexible work environment  
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply
• The deadline to receive your application is 6th Feb, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Category: Jobs

Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £64,000 per Annum  
Location: (Remote – Flexible) Candidates anywhere from the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries.
Closing date:  9 February, 2024 

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into four directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

To lead and hold responsibility for Cochrane’s editorial operations, and to support the Deputy Operations Manager and Editor in Chief of Cochrane in achieving the strategic aims and delivering the objectives of the Cochrane Evidence Production and Methods Directorate (EPMD).   

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.  

You can expect:  

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.  
• A flexible work environment  
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply
• The deadline to receive your application is 9th Feb, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Category: Jobs

心臓発作後の非ビタミンK拮抗経口抗凝固薬（血栓予防薬）の利益と有害性とは？ 要点 - プラセボ（偽薬）と比較して、リバーロキサバンはあらゆる原因による死亡（全死亡）を減少させ、心臓発作後の心臓や血管の疾患による死亡（心血管死）をおそらく減少させる。ダビガトランは全死亡を減少させるかもしれないが、心血管死にはほとんどあるいは全く影響を及ぼさないかもしれない。アピキサバンはプラセボと比較して、心臓発作後の全死亡や心血管死を減少させる効果がない可能性がある。 - アピキサバンとリバーロキサバンはプラセボと比較して大出血のリスクを増加させる。 - 非ビタミンK拮抗経口抗凝固薬（NOAC）同士を直接比較する研究が必要である。 心臓発作とは？ 心臓発作は、心筋への血液供給が突然途絶え、組織障害を引き起こす生命を脅かす事態である。心臓発作後の患者にとって最良の治療法を選択することは、臨床現場において依然として課題である。抗血小板薬（血小板同士がくっついて血栓が形成されるのを予防する薬）による治療にもかかわらず、心臓発作の生存者は死亡リスクが高くなる。 レビューを行った理由 このレビューの目的は、心臓発作後に抗血小板薬に次世代血液抗凝固薬（NOAC）を追加することが、抗血小板薬単独よりも安全で効果的であるかどうかを調査することである。NOACは、血液凝固の時間を遅らせたり、血液凝固の起こり方を変...

Poster sessions are a key component of most academic conferences. However, rows of text-heavy posters can be difficult for attendees to navigate, particularly for those for whom English is not their native language, or who may be neurodivergent or disabled. Cochrane recently teamed up with researchers to introduce poster templates for the Cochrane Colloquium based on the latest research. The results from the 'real world' assessment are now available. We spoke with the researchers to find out more. 

Can you tell us a bit about your elite poster research team, so we have an understanding of how you are approaching academic posters?Sure! Our team includes Dr. Zen Faulkes, author of the book “Better Posters” and founder of the Better Posters blog; Dr. Mike Morrison, the psychologist who created a redesign for scientific posters that went viral and started the #BetterPoster movement; and Dr. Emily Messina and her colleagues at IPG Health Medical Communications (Noofa Hannan, Victoria Evans, and Anja Petersen) and Helios (James Wells).  

What do you see as the purpose of academic posters?
For all the criticism posters get, they have incredible potential and play a crucial role in science communication. A scientific poster session is one of the only learning environments in science where researchers walk into a room completely open to learning. So, a key function of scientific posters is to give scientists broad, serendipitous insight into work going on across their whole field. Poster sessions are also a great way to meet people with similar research interests. Networking is a key purpose of attending a poster session, but the job of the poster itself is to communicate key ideas quickly (and engagingly!) in a stressful and demanding, busy environment.

Most conference attendees can probably relate to this. Most academic posters follow the same format that they always have. What’s wrong with them?
Imagine that you’re standing in front of a wall where somebody has taped up printed pages of a scientific paper, and you’re trying to read all that dense text and those tiny figures on the pages from four feet away. Now imagine trying to do that while there are a hundred other similar ‘posters’ you would like to see in a short time, while also trying to listen in to what the presenters are saying. Now imagine trying to do that if you’re someone with low vision or a processing disorder that amplifies the lights and sounds in the room. It’s difficult to learn anything from the poster in that context, which is why people often just give up and ask the presenter to explain the study, or just walk away.

That’s the core problem with the traditional scientific poster design: it ignores the context of just how busy and overwhelming the room is. This could be because the traditional design was created decades ago when poster sessions were much smaller.

There is also a harmful feedback loop in scientific poster design, where authors with (typically) no design training feel like they need to ‘fill up all the space’ with text and figures to ‘show that they did work’, and then the poster session attendees learn just to accept that cluttered posters will always be the norm and have to make do with them.

We had over 300 posters at Cochrane Colloquium and walking through them you could see many people used the accessible template. It felt less mentally overwhelming and was fantastic to walk around and learn from them. Can you tell us a bit more about the templates offered?
The #BetterPoster template we provided was based on the latest research in instructional design, accessibility, and eye tracking. It was designed to teach people something (typically the main finding) from a far distance; making it possible for them to learn something from every poster in the room, not just the few that they stop at. Then, the remainder of the poster is designed to quickly communicate additional details (limitations, key figures, methods) still visible at about 3ft. The figures also include mini takeaways, to help people interpret graphs while also trying to, for example, pay attention to you, the presenter. Finally, it includes a QR code that people can scan to get the author’s contact details or read the whole paper. The template was just that – a starting point to make it easier for people to get creative and make their own accessible posters. It was wonderful seeing people use the template whilst also adding their own touches.

At the event you made observations, interviewed people, and did a survey of attendees afterwards. What did you learn?
It was a great three days at the Cochrane Colloquium, seeing the poster template being embraced and people’s response to it. We just got back from presenting our findings at the 2024 European Meeting of the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals. Our survey and interviews found that more accessible poster designs may improve engagement and communication at conferences. People found the posters with large figures and limited text to be more engaging; posters using the template were cited as memorable or informative; and they were also easier to understand. 

That's fantastic. This template was made specifically for the Cochrane Colloquium. What can researchers and those creating posters for any conference take away from this?
While the template was designed to the specifications of the Cochrane event, you can tailor them to any event that you need to present a poster at! We encourage all academics to download the template and adjust it as they need to. We're excited to see what you come up with; please tag pictures of your poster with #BetterPoster on social media so we can see them!

• Learn more about the research findings
• Learn more about the accessibility of different conference presentation formats
• Download the #BetterPoster template

Wednesday, January 31, 2024