Centre for Reviews and Dissemination

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) is a department within the University of York, England, specializing in evidence-based health care. Established in 1994, the CRD aims to provide reliable information to aid in making informed decisions about health care policies and practices. It is recognized internationally for its role in public health, health services research, and evidence-based medicine.

Overview

The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination's primary mission is to improve health and healthcare by providing high-quality research evidence on the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare interventions and services. The CRD conducts systematic reviews and meta-analyses, evaluating the benefits and harms of healthcare interventions. It also develops methodologies for conducting systematic reviews and promotes the use of research evidence in healthcare decision-making.

Activities

The CRD undertakes a range of activities to achieve its objectives, including:

• Systematic Reviews: The CRD is renowned for its systematic reviews, which are comprehensive studies that aggregate findings from multiple research studies on a particular health care intervention. These reviews are instrumental in guiding clinical practice and health policy.
• Databases: The CRD maintains several key databases, including the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), and the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database. These databases provide access to quality-assessed reviews of health care interventions, economic evaluations, and technology assessments.
• Guidance and Methodology: The CRD develops and disseminates methodological guidance to support the conduct of systematic reviews and the use of evidence in healthcare decision-making.
• Training and Support: The Centre offers training and support to researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers on how to conduct systematic reviews and use evidence-based information.

Impact

The work of the CRD has a significant impact on healthcare by providing evidence that informs clinical guidelines, policy decisions, and patient care. Its research and databases are widely used by healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers worldwide to access reliable information on the effectiveness of healthcare interventions.

Collaborations

The CRD collaborates with a range of organizations, including the Cochrane Collaboration, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization (WHO), to improve the quality and accessibility of health care evidence.

See Also

• Evidence-based medicine
• Systematic review
• Health technology assessment
• Public health

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