JBI Brazil: Building bridges for collaborative knowledge in health

Authors: Vilanice Alves de Araújo Püschel and Karina Sichieri 

Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo (School of Nursing – University of Sao Paolo), University Hospital of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Introduction

In the complex ecosystem of health, the greatest challenge is not merely generating scientific knowledge, but ensuring it is used by frontline professionals, managers, policymakers and patients. In this process, the collaborative communication of knowledge becomes the key to transformation.

The JBI Brazilian Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare has worked to build bridges and take a leading role in this mission. Based at the School of Nursing at the University of São Paulo (EEUSP), this Centre of Excellence serves as a robust bridge, connecting cutting-edge research with clinical practice through an international collaborative network. For 16 years, JBI Brazil has been a pioneer in Latin America, not only in producing evidence syntheses but also in creating an ecosystem where knowledge is shared, taught and implemented collaboratively.

Background

JBI Brazil was founded in 2009 as the first JBI collaborating entity in Latin America. The initiative arose from a strategic partnership between the EEUSP, the University Hospital of USP (HU-USP) and JBI University of Adelaide, Australia. This alliance brought together academic excellence and practical healthcare, creating an ideal environment for evidence-based practice to flourish.

The strength of the Centre lies in its collaborative structure. Management is shared between a faculty member from EEUSP and a nurse from HU-USP, and its team comprises 24 core staff members and 9 adjunct staff. This group of experts extends beyond USP; it includes renowned researchers from 8 higher education institutions in Brazil, specialist librarians in evidence synthesis and nurses from leading institutions. This diversity underpins its strength and leadership, consolidating it as an initiative that integrates teaching, research and outreach in an inseparable way.

The problem

The core problem JBI Brazil seeks to address is the persistent gap between the available scientific evidence and its application in daily clinical practice. Too often, high-quality research remains confined to academic journals, failing to influence decisions made at the bedside. This gap leads to healthcare that may not be the most effective, safe or efficient, resulting in unnecessary costs and suboptimal outcomes for patients.

The mission of JBI Brazil, therefore, is to actively promote the dissemination, transfer and implementation of evidence-based healthcare for all actors in the health system — researchers, health professionals, managers, policymakers and service users.

The search for answers

To overcome this challenge, JBI Brazil has adopted a multifaceted approach, strengthening collaborative knowledge communication channels focused on four pillars: the generation, synthesis, transfer and implementation of evidence. Some initiatives for knowledge communication are: 

1. 1. Capacity-building: Achieved through programs delivered according to JBI methodology, such as the Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program (CSRTP) and the Evidence Implementation Training Program (EITP). These programs prepare health professionals to become change leaders in their own institutions, teaching them how to implement best evidence-based practices.
2. 2. Academic and outreach channels: Knowledge transfer is broadened by offering postgraduate subjects, nursing residency training, teaching evidence-based practice in undergraduate programs and workshops.
3. 3. Digital platforms: JBI Brazil has contributed to the creation of the ‘Evidence-Based Nursing’ platform, soon to be launched by the Virtual Health Library (BVS), which will expand access and communication of evidence in Latin America.
4. 4. Global dialogue: Collaboration is fostered through national and international exchange, exemplified by gLOCAL Solution Room 2025 and VIII ENIES - National Meeting on Evidence Implementation in Health Institutions, reinforcing global dialogue among researchers and practitioners.

Results and outcomes

The results of 16 years of collaborative work are tangible and high-impact in several areas:

1. 1. Training and recognition. JBI Brazil has trained 866 professionals through the CSRTP and 91 through the EITP. The EITP empowers health professionals to act as change agents. A clear illustration of this collaborative knowledge flow is the journey of professionals at HU-USP and many hospitals in Brazil pursuing Magnet Journey certification. Following their training with JBI Brazil, alumni and Centre members led implementation projects that successfully integrated best evidence into daily clinical practice. JBI’s ‘Endorsement’ recognition for HU-USP explicitly  recognises  the quality and safety of its care practices. This reflects a clear cycle: rigorous methodology is communicated (through training), applied (during implementation) and verified (through endorsement), extending its influence to other leading institutions in Brazil, as well as in Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
2. 2. Publication. Members of JBI Brazil publish in high-impact journals such as JBI Evidence Synthesis (IF: 4.5), JBI Evidence Implementation (IF: 2.9) and the Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP (IF: 1.3).
3. 3. Feedback for system sustainability (cost-effectiveness). The collaborative work also generates structured feedback for health managers and policymakers. JBI Brazil not only produces evidence syntheses but also leads research on cost-effective implementation, promoting system sustainability. A key example is Brazil’s first doctoral thesis (2025) evaluating the cost-effectiveness of an evidence implementation project.
4. 4. Policy influence. To bridge the gap between evidence generation and policy formulation, JBI Brazil has engaged with high-level governmental entities. A proposal has been submitted to the Brazilian Ministry of Health for the establishment of the Centre for Research in Evidence Implementation in Health (CePIE-EEUSP), aiming to align evidence implementation with national health policies.
5. 5. Role of patients and knowledge users.  JBI Brazil’s mission is to actively promote the dissemination, transfer and implementation of evidence-based healthcare across all levels of the health system, including service users (patients). The persistence of the research–practice gap leads to suboptimal patient outcomes. Therefore, the collaborative communication model seeks to ensure that decisions made at the bedside are evidence-informed, resulting in safer and more effective care 

Collaborative communication in action

At JBI Brazil, evidence implementation is built on communication—structured, inclusive and sustained across every level of care. Trained professionals apply JBI’s PACES and GRiP frameworks not only to design change strategies but also to enable dialogue between researchers, clinicians and patients about what works in their context.

At the University Hospital of São Paulo, a team of nurses used JBI’s implementation framework to improve the screening and early detection of post-extubation dysphagia among critically ill patients. Baseline audits revealed inconsistent practices and communication gaps between nurses and speech therapists. Through workshops and bedside mentoring, an interdisciplinary team co-developed a shared screening protocol, standardised documentation in the electronic medical record and introduced visual reminders and quick-reference guides. Knowledge flowed both ways: frontline nurses provided feedback on the protocol’s usability, while educators tailored training sessions to address challenges identified in practice. Within months, screening compliance reached 100%, illustrating how structured communication fosters sustained behaviour change.

In a person-centred fall-prevention project at a major oncology hospital, nurses and patients co-designed individualised care plans. Bedside discussions invited patients and families to help identify risks and set daily mobility goals, while multidisciplinary meetings with pharmacists, physiotherapists and psychologists coordinated follow-up actions. Patients received printed and verbal fall-prevention guides at discharge, ensuring the dialogue extended beyond hospital walls.

A third initiative focused on gastrostomy management in adults. Here, nurses collaborated with nutritionists, physicians and caregivers to standardise post-procedure care, developing checklists, instructional videos and caregiver teaching sessions to improve continuity of care after discharge.

Together, these examples show that collaborative communication is more than sharing information—it is a continuous, co-creative process that turns evidence into shared understanding, safe practice and better outcomes for patients.

Challenges/obstacles/lessons learned

Despite its success, the journey has presented significant challenges. The main obstacle is structural: JBI Brazil’s researchers are highly engaged professionals within their own institutions, carrying numerous academic and managerial responsibilities. This workload hinders expansion, creating a backlog of demand for courses and limiting the Centre’s ability to undertake larger-scale projects.

The lesson learned over 16 years is that, while a model based on voluntary collaboration is powerful and effective, it has reached a point where sustainability and growth require new strategies. The accumulated expertise is immense and the Centre is ready for higher goals, such as influencing public policy at municipal, state and federal levels. However, to achieve this potential, ways to expand operational capacity must be found.

Next steps

Looking ahead, JBI Brazil has an ambitious plan to broaden its impact through new strategic partnerships and innovative initiatives. The next steps include:

• Expanding links with the Ministry of Health: aiming to align evidence synthesis and implementation with national health policies.
• Strengthening strategic partnerships: Efforts are underway to formalise a partnership with Cochrane Brazil, another global leader in evidence synthesis.
• Expanding training: The Centre is organising new courses––one for editors and reviewers of scientific journals and another on search strategies––to further strengthen the quality of national scientific production.
• Promoting global dialogue: In 2026, JBI Brazil will host an international event entitled Evidence Synthesis and Implementation Science: Advances for Global Health, reinforcing its leadership on the global stage.
• Ensuring sustainability: A crucial focus will be attracting young researchers and nurturing new leadership to ensure the continuity and expansion of this robust international collaboration.
   

Key take home messages

• Collaboration drives change: JBI Brazil’s success demonstrates that collaborative knowledge communication, uniting academia, health services and multiple specialists, is the most effective way to translate science into better health outcomes.
• Empowering people empowers the system: By training leaders in evidence synthesis and implementation, JBI Brazil creates a multiplier effect that transforms institutions from within.
• From theory to sustainable practice: JBI Brazil not only produces evidence syntheses but also leads research on how to implement them cost-effectively, ensuring health system sustainability.
• A future of leadership: With 16 years of expertise, JBI Brazil is positioned as a strong and bold organisation, ready to consolidate its leadership in improving health in Brazil and Latin America, while exploring new horizons and strategic partnerships.

References
Jordan, Z., Pilla, B., Porritt, K., Munn, Z., Aromataris, E., & Lockwood, C. (2023). Turning the flywheel: Mobilizing the JBI model of evidence-based healthcare. JBI Evidence Implementation, 21(1), 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1097/XEB.0000000000000342

Centro Brasileiro para o Cuidado à Saúde Baseado em Evidências: JBI Brasil [Internet]. São Paulo; 2021 [cited 2025 Sep 26]. Available from:  https://www.ee.usp.br/jbibrasil/

Aromataris E, Lockwood C, Porritt K, Pilla B, Jordan Z, editors. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI; 2024. Available from: https://synthesismanual.jbi.global.  https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-24-014 ISBN: 978-0-6488488-2-0

Porritt K, McArthur A, Lockwood C, Munn Z, editors. JBI Handbook for Evidence Implementation. JBI; 2020. Available from: https://implementationmanual.jbi.global. https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMEI-20-01

Jornal da Universidade de São Paulo [internet]. São Paulo; 2019 [cited 2025 Sep 26].  Available from:  https://jornal.usp.br/universidade/hospital-da-usp-recebe-selo-internacional-unico-na-america-latina/

Links to additional resources
Scientific events held in 2025:
JBI gLOCAL Solution Room 2025: Evidence-Based Practice: Integrating Education, Inovation and Implementation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKqjh1DZ6mw&t=161s
VII ENIES - National Meeting on Evidence Implementation in Health Institutions - Day 1:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnO6jS-B7jw&t=9s
VII ENIES - National Meeting on Evidence Implementation in Health Institutions - Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh_mCmSIW_4&t=226s
VIII ENIES - National Meeting on Evidence Implementation in Health Institutions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB4j-ns7p48

To link to this article - DOI: https://doi.org/10.70253/MBZG1234 

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