Knowledge Synthesis

High-quality evidence is the backbone of consistent and appropriate care. Synthesized, pre-filtered, vetted sources of evidence are critical for enabling busy, front-line professionals to provide the best possible care to Canada’s children. The needs assessment showed that most healthcare professionals want specific types of information: protocols and accepted treatments for common conditions (68%); evidence-based clinical pathways and clinical practice guidelines (66%); and evidence-based information on new diagnoses and treatments (61%).

Led by TREKK Co-Director Dr. Lisa Hartling, the Knowledge Synthesis team at the Alberta Reseach Centre for Health Evidence (ARCHE), based at the University of Alberta is:  

1. Creating a comprehensive resource repository of evidence-based knowledge to address the most critical needs identified during the needs assessment, and

2. Creating practical summaries of evidence related to the effectiveness of treatment options to fill gaps in existing resources.

 To do so, TREKK recruited a consortium of the world’s leading pediatric emergency researchers as content advisors who assess and filter the most relevant evidence and update the network’s centralized resource repository. This process eliminates delays in knowledge uptake associated with long publishing cycles and ensures that the latest information is immediately accessible for those who need it the most: front-line professionals. 

The ARCHE team is critical in the development of our Evidence Repository and other educational tools. Read more about this process on the How We Choose Our Resources page.

Related publications:

February 2016 Knowledge Synthesis Publication

What works and what's safe in pediatric emergency procedural sedation: an overview of reviews.