Talk at SRNT Europe 2016, Prague on findings from CTAG taps. Specifically focused on dissemination of tobaco research

1. Trusted evidence.
Informed decisions.
Better health.
Are we asking questions that
have already been answered?
Results from the Cochrane TAG
prioritisation survey
Dr Nicola Lindson-Hawley
Managing Editor
Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group
Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health
Sciences, University of Oxford
@cochraneTAG
SRNT-E 2016:
Thursday 8th
September

2.  One of 53 topic specific Cochrane Review Groups worldwide
 Carry out & manage systematic reviews of interventions for tobacco use
& prevention
 Not-for-profit. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded
 Editorial base at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health
Sciences, University of Oxford
 Established 1996. 2016 is our 20th anniversary!
Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (CTAG)

3. The Cochrane TAG 20th anniversary priority
setting project (CTAG taps)
 Funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research
AIMS
1. Raise awareness
2. Identify where further tobacco
control & smoking cessation
research is needed
3. Identify ways to effectively disseminate the findings of tobacco research
4. Identify specific goals for Cochrane TAG

4. Stakeholder involvement
Policy makers
Research fundersResearchers
Healthcare
providers
Current &
former smokers
Healthcare
commissioners

5. 1. Survey stage 1: Identifying uncertainties
2. Survey stage 2: Ranking uncertainties
3. Prioritisation workshop
- prioritise future research areas
- potential dissemination strategy
Project stages

6. Methods
 Online survey- link disseminated to stakeholders via mailing lists, public
health organisations, Twitter, Facebook, conferences, blogging
 Respondents provided max. of 4 qs they would like to see answered by
tobacco control research
 Questions classified as unempirical, already answered and unanswered
 Already answered = there is a Cochrane/other high quality systematic
review or national/international guideline that already provides a robust
conclusion
 Decisions subjective, so all decisions were made, compared & discussed
by at least 2 people independently
Identifying uncertainties

7. Identifying uncertainties
Results
 258 questions after duplicates removed
 15 were non-empirical questions & 183 unanswered
 60 already answered!

8. Examples of already answered questions
Question Source of conclusion
What are the harms associated with tobacco
smoking?
2004 Surgeon General's Report-The Health
Consequences of Smoking
Is smoking cessation support delivered by
pharmacists effective?
2016 NIHR HTA systematic review report
Do public smoking bans have an impact on the
profits of businesses serving food and drink?
2006 Surgeon General’s Report-The Health
Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to
Tobacco Smoke
What is the most effective and cost-effective
method to prevent uptake of tobacco use?
World Health Organisation webpage on tobacco
control economics
Should undergraduates in medicine and
nursing professions (including midwifery) who
smoke be told that smoking is discouraged &
provided with support to quit?
NICE smoking cessation in secondary care
guidance
How effective is NRT for smoking cessation? Cochrane review: Nicotine replacement therapy
for smoking cessation

9. CTAG Taps workshop
Primary aim: build on survey findings & prioritise
future research areas for CTAG
Secondary aim: how can we improve the
dissemination of tobacco research
 30 min round table discussion; 7 per table +1
facilitator
How can we improve dissemination?

10. Tailor the message
 Different channels for different audiences - comms strategy for each
 People who need information most may not be accessing social media
Prioritise informing decision makers
 Reaching smokers is difficult, influencing decision makers mean the effects
can be felt more widely
 Financial aspects need to be considered and communicated
 Localise information- apply result to clinical setting i.e. NNT for their hospital
 Have policy/commissioning reps involved in research process early

11.  HP not always providing accurate information- build new evidence into CPD
 Smoking cessation not taught at every medical school. Why?
 Communicate directly with students
Educate health professionals
Find ways to engage the public
 A lot of disinformation- make findings exciting so media report accurately
 Ensure plain language summaries are ‘plain’
 Penetrate popular culture- storylines in soaps, media advocates, retweets
 Inform the public about the research and recommendations process

12.  Partner with others e.g. Royal Colleges to present evidence with
actions
 Make sure information provided appears feasible, e.g. takes into
account cost effectiveness
 Work with guideline developers & register as stakeholders to
optimise chances of being included in guidance
 Recruit PPI & clinical reps to ensure public facing materials are
usable
Bridge research – implementation gap

13.  Use already est. networks e.g. ASH & NCSCT email bulletins, e-cig
groups
 Make links with policy developers, Royal Colleges, Public Health
England
 Get on to journalists’ mailing lists
Use experts
Simplify the message
 More imagery and simplification in all publicity- use infographics
 Circulate regular updates of research group’s activities/findings
 Provide one page or 6-slide summary of research reports

14. Next steps….
 Disseminate findings of anniversary
project widely
 Develop a Cochrane TAG specific
dissemination strategy based on our
findings
National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) is a partnership
between the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Keele, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford,
Southampton and University College London. This presentation summarises independent research funded
by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research. The views expressed are
those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

15. How to find out more or contact us
 Visit our website: http://tobacco.cochrane.org/
 Tweet us: @cochraneTAG
 Email us: nicola.lindson-hawley@phc.ox.ac.uk
 Call us: +44 (0)1865 289 320
National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) is a partnership
between the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Keele, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford,
Southampton and University College London. This presentation summarises independent research funded
by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research. The views expressed are
those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.