Research Synthesis Division
A major research theme for ARCH for 2008-2012 is:
Benefiting women and babies by promoting and supporting evidence based health care
Cochrane Reviews in maternal and perinatal health have major impact by providing evidence for clinical practice, health care policy and identifying new research strategies. The Australian Collaborative Research Network (the Australasian Review Authors Group for the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Collaborative Review Group) is funded by the Federal Department of Health, with the national coordinating centre at ARCH.
Further information about the Research Synthesis Division:
- Key Research Strategies
- Australasian Reviewers Group for the Collaborative Review Group (ARG-PC-CRG)
- Prenatal Repeat Corticosteroid International IPD Study Group
- Contacts
Key research strategies:
The key research strategies of the Research Synthesis Division are to facilitate the preparation and updating of high quality systematic reviews in maternal and perinatal health, benefiting women and babies by:-
- providing multidisciplinary expertise and maintaining an ideal training environment in research synthesis to support authors of systematic reviews.
- ensuring sufficient experienced authors of systematic reviews to provide sustainability in keeping the pregnancy and childbirth Cochrane reviews up to date – a prerequisite for providing current, evidence based health advice.
- the development of sustainable expertise in the preparation of systematic reviews by encouraging mentoring of new authors by experienced authors of systematic reviews.
- increasing the number of tertiary maternity hospitals and institutions within Australia where midwives, clinicians, researchers and allied health care professionals are active Cochrane pregnancy and childbirth authors of systematic reviews.
- taking the lead in completing systematic reviews in identified priority maternal and perinatal topics where there are no Cochrane reviews.
- contributing to international guidelines for preparing and maintaining systematic reviews, such as the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
- continuing to develop expertise in mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) research synthesis.
- developing expertise and capacity in diagnostic reviews.
 | Australasian Reviewers Group for the Collaborative Review Group (ARG-PC-CRG) |
The Australian Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Central Office is funded by the Department of Health to support Australian authors, prepare and maintain Cochrane Systematic Reviews relating to women's and infant's health. Ms Philippa Middleton is the National Coordinator for the group supported by the research leaders. There are 135 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth review authors within Australia who are supported by staff in the research office and their work accounts for 66 Cochrane Systematic Reviews, over 26% of all pregnancy and childbirth reviews in The Cochrane Library. The implications for clinical practice provide guidance for effective clinical care. The implications for research prioritise our research agenda, locally and at the national level.
Prenatal Repeat Corticosteroid International IPD Study Group: assessing the effects using the best level of Evidence (PRECISE) Study
This study aims, using individual patient data meta-analyses on data already collected from ten individual randomised controlled trials, to assess whether the effects on important clinical outcomes of administration modify treatment effects of repeat prenatal corticosteroid treatment given to women at risk of preterm birth, differ, in a clinically meaningful way, depending on:
- The reason the woman was considered to be at risk of preterm birth (such as preterm labour, the presence or absence of ruptured membranes, antepartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, growth restriction, suspected fetal jeopardy, cervical incompetence, infection at time of entry and multiple pregnancy).
- The primary reason repeat prenatal corticosteroid treatment was given (‘rescue therapy' when preterm birth is imminent or prophylaxis).
- The number of babies in-utero (singleton, twin or higher order multiple pregnancy).
- The gestational age when repeat prenatal corticosteroid treatment was given.
- The time prior to birth repeat prenatal corticosteroid treatment was given.
- The type, mode of administration and dosage of repeat prenatal corticosteroid treatment given.
The study has received NHMRC funding for 2011 - 2013 and an international PRECISE Collaborators Study Group has been formed including representatives from the ten trials.
Key Contacts
Professor Caroline Crowther
Dr Jodie Dodd
Ms Philippa Middleton
