Dr Sandeep Moola¹, Dr Matthew Stephenson¹ Ms  Rochelle  Kurmis², Assoc Prof  Dale Edgar³, Ms  Kathryn  Heath⁴

¹Research Fellow, University Of Adelaide, North Adelaide, Australia, ²Allied Health Project Manager, Adult Burns Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia, ³Head, Burn Injury Research Node, The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia, ⁴Allied Health Project Manager, Adult Burns Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia

Abstract:

Background: The Burns Care Node of the Joanna Briggs Institute’s COnNECT+ database provides access to reliable, high quality burns specific evidence-based resources. The Expert Reference Group aligned to the node assists with the development and review, ensuring that the quality and relevancy of the resources is maintained. Evidence tools such as point-of-care resources, rapid reviews and evidence maps are developed to aid decision-makers in understanding the evidence base and leveraging it to improve clinical practice and policy.

Aim: To present the current state of evidence in burns scar management, and demonstrate the value of academic-clinician collaborations, and evidence tools such as rapid reviews and evidence maps.

Methods: A rapid review method was utilised, and a comprehensive search was conducted in the COnNECT+ database for evidence summaries (ESs) related to various aspects of burns scar management and in other major databases. Further, an evidence map aided by tables was used to visually represent the data.

Results: Twenty ESs were identified and the quality of included evidence, and best practice recommendations were reviewed. An evidence map was generated identifying effective interventions for burns scar management and highlighting the evidence gaps in this field.

Conclusion: The process of rapid reviews and evidence mapping in collaboration with clinical experts is a useful tool for assisting clinicians with identifying evidence-based strategies for implementation into practice and for identifying future research priorities. The project further demonstrated the value of robust academic processes in close collaboration with clinical topic experts to develop and promote evidence-based burns practice.

Biography:

I am currently working as a Research Fellow within the Implementation Science Team at the Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide. My role at JBI involves undertaking systematic reviews and writing evidence summaries, recommended practices, review summaries and Best Practice Information Sheets. I am an Academic Lead of ‘Burns Care’, and ‘Infection Control’ Nodes of JBI COnNECT+ database. I also assist in developing short course online modules and have contributed to various external consultancy research projects.
I have a clinical background in oral health, and I have obtained a Master’s degree in Health Services Management and a Master of Philosophy degree in Evidence-Based Health care. I recently completed my PhD.