Czech-Norwegian Collaboration on Meta-Research and Critical Thinking Education in Healthcare

About this project

<p>This project is focused on strengthening the inter-institutional collaboration between Czech National Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Knowledge Translation, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University (hereinafter CEBHCKT) and Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (hereinafter CEBP) to increase knowledge and improve teaching skills in Evidence-Based Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Meta-Research. Critical Thinking forms the basis of an approach Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC), which stresses the examination of evidence from clinical research. Meta-Research (research on research) is a systematic reviewing of evidence of what is already known.</p> <p>The specific objectives of the project include two-way knowledge transfer in Evidence-Based Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Meta-Research between partnering organisations through meetings, peer-learning activities and multiplier events; and cooperation on development of comprehensive teaching modules of “Evidence-Based Critical Thinking” and “Evidence-Based Meta-Research”. Participants of the project are academicians and lecturers from both partnering institutions.</p> <p>In the short-term, the project is designed to achieve increased knowledge, skills and teaching competencies of academicians and lecturers at both partnering institutions in Evidence-Based Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Meta-Research (primary target group), and undergraduate and postgraduate students (secondary target group). The project will also enable postgraduate medical and healthcare students to design their early-career research activities according to the best available evidence.</p> <p>In the long-term, the project is designed to achieve the transfer of knowledge and skills of Evidence-Based Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Meta-Research between the academicians of the partnering universities (primary target group).</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

Norwegian project partner is very experienced in Evidence-Based principles, especially in the development and publication of systematic reviews and is also strongly focused on the Evidence-Based Research approach. The Norwegian partner has also a longer tradition in teaching Evidence-Based principles generally within all study programmes at HVL. The main result of this three years long intensive bilateral cooperation was increased and deepened knowledge and skill of both partners in “Evidence-Based Critical Thinking” and "Evidence-Based Meta-research” through sharing know-how and interactive very intensive discussion, especially improving teaching approaches in these areas.

Project partners

• Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Donor project partner· Norway