Upskilling Healthcare Workers to Provide Equitable Evidence-Based Healthcare
Recent times have seen a growing shift in emphasis towards evidence-informed healthcare, driven primarily by the expectations of funders, policymakers and the public. For example, in Ireland, the Department of Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science has recently launched an open consultation with researchers to maximise the impact of research in policy development. Establishing research support functions within the health service has also been identified as a key recommendation by Health Research Charities Ireland in its recent 2023 position paper. The aim is to enable more effective and efficient healthcare for its members, who comprise approximately 40 charities active in health, medical and social care research, together representing over 1 million people in Ireland.
The way in which we commission, develop and use evidence in health policy and practice can either deepen or overcome health inequities. According to the World Health Organization, using the best available evidence in the best way possible is central in achieving impact on global health and equity. Health inequities are unfair and avoidable differences in health caused by power imbalances and the societal distribution of wealth and resources. Global crises such as humanitarian disasters, climate change and pandemics tend to further fuel these inequities. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the common refrain of ‘we’re all in this together’, we saw that people from ethnic minorities and underprivileged groups were more severely affected than others. For example, data from the United States showed that Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people were twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than their White counterparts. In Ireland, the pandemic exacerbated existing healthcare issues, as illustrated in a report by the Health Service Executive. The report highlighted increased difficulties in relation to health and social outcomes faced by marginalised children during November 2020.
However, despite the apparent appetite for equitable evidence-based healthcare, and its clear importance, it is still not commonplace, with the ‘60-30-10’ challenge commonly cited. Specifically, international research suggests that approximately 60% of healthcare is in line with evidence- or consensus-based guidelines, 30% is wasteful or of low value and 10% is harmful. A rapidly evolving healthcare landscape poses both challenges and opportunities for implementing evidence. For example, many government policies increasingly emphasise integrated and equitable evidence-based care, but how do we facilitate the implementation of these policies in ever-changing contexts? Rapid advancements in technology have unlocked remarkable potential for data-driven decision-making in healthcare. The growing availability and accessibility of health data means that patients, their families and members of the public can play an even more active and informed role in their healthcare than ever before. However, this brings a parallel risk of the depersonalisation of care as well as misinformation and disinformation, which can impede the practice of shared decision-making. How do healthcare workers communicate effectively and constructively about healthcare options with someone who strongly believes that the disease they have, or the options that have been outlined, are part of a government conspiracy? These developments require a massive shift in ways of working for healthcare workers. Those working in healthcare need up-to-date training and support to ensure an equitable approach to person-centred healthcare delivery that is based on the latest research evidence, clinical expertise and diverse patient values.
To meet this unmet need, the University of Galway has recently launched a new MSc in Evidence-Based Future Healthcare. This program is a fully online course designed to equip people working in healthcare with the skills and knowledge to tackle current and emerging healthcare challenges by utilising cutting-edge approaches to evidence identification, appraisal and patient-centred implementation. Taking a contemporary approach to the traditional concept of evidence-based medicine, the program covers topics such as the ethical, appropriate and evidence-informed use of artificial intelligence and health technologies in healthcare; person-centred care and shared decision-making with patients and their families in an era of misinformation and disinformation; and the use of evidence to address health inequities in an increasingly multicultural and data-savvy society. For example, our ‘Advancing Health Equity Through Evidence-Based Practice’ module is delivered by national and international experts and aims to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to recognise and address health disparities and promote health equity in various healthcare settings, including clinical and public health settings.
The course is designed to be deeply practical, helping healthcare workers to apply learnings to their own practice. The course can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis and its fully online approach, supported by a team of dedicated and experienced lecturing staff, helps students to balance work and life commitments.
The MSc in Evidence-Based Future Healthcare is open to anyone working in healthcare. This can include direct care for individuals or communities in clinical settings (e.g. medical, nursing and allied health professionals); non-clinical roles in healthcare administration, policy, research and community service focused on healthcare; or those working in broader health areas, such as medtech. The programme has a distinctly interprofessional emphasis, with a strong focus on collaborative interdisciplinary teamwork to replicate real-life integrated healthcare settings. We particularly welcome national and international applicants from diverse backgrounds.
The MSc in Evidence-Based Future Healthcare is now recruiting for its first intake in September 2024. For more information, contact Programme Directors, Dr Elaine Toomey or Professor Declan Devane, at [email protected] or sign up to receive course updates at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/evidence-based-future-healthcare.html/.
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The views expressed in this World EBHC Day Blog, as well as any errors or omissions, are the sole responsibility of the author and do not represent the views of the World EBHC Day Steering Committee, Official Partners or Sponsors; nor does it imply endorsement by the aforementioned parties.
