Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit researcher, evidence synthesis consultant and patient/public partners contribute to series of rapid reviews published in prestigious UK journal
A Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit (MSSU) researcher, evidence synthesis consultant and patient/public partner are co-authors of a new rapid systematic review publication in a prestigious United Kingdom-based journal exploring the effectiveness of face masks in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
MSSU Senior Evidence Synthesis Consultant Leah Boulos and Dr. Janet Curran, Science Co-Lead for Learning Health Systems, co-led the new publication, titled ” Effectiveness of face masks for reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review,” in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A. The review is one of six published together in a special issue of the journal edited by Sir Mark Walport.
“Understanding the effectiveness of these interventions is crucial for guiding public health policies and mitigating the spread of the virus. [The review] not only assesses the impact of masking and mask mandates, but also created an opportunity for patient partners to contribute insights on their lived experience understanding this complex literature,” said Dr. Curran.
The publication marks a significant milestone in a multi-national initiative involving five other research teams exploring evidence about the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“The power of evidence synthesis is that we can take a large volume of research – 75 included studies in this case – and put it all together to see the big picture,” said Boulos. “Above all, our goal was to produce a high-quality, methodologically rigorous review that we could be proud of, and we have done that.”
The Halifax team included several members of Dr. Curran’s Strengthening Transitions in Care Lab (IWK Health), other MSSU staff and two patient partners as co-authors.
The patient perspective
The multi-disciplinary team showcased the power of collaboration and underscores the pivotal role of patient engagement in health research. This partnership ensured that the research considered the real-world implications of the interventions being studied.
“The collaborative team approach which this study used, aimed to ensure that the research was patient-centered, addressed the needs and priorities of patients and thus created stronger research,” said Flynn, co-author of the review and co-chair of the MSSU Patient/Public Partner Council.
Patient partners attended team meetings and helped interpret what the public would take away from the research and, in developing key messages.
“I felt that my experiences and comments were not only heard but acknowledged, appreciated and used to inform improvements in the study and the dissemination process,” said Flynn.
This collaborative effort serves as a model for future research endeavors that seek to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and real-world impact, ultimately contributing to more effective public health strategies.
The open access publication can be accessed here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2023.0133