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Issues and challenges for systematic reviews in indigenous health
  1. E McDonald1,
  2. N Priest2,
  3. J Doyle2,
  4. R Bailie1,
  5. I Anderson3,
  6. E Waters2
  1. 1Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Australia
  2. 2Cochrane Public Health Review Group, The McCaughey Centre: VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  3. 3Centre for Health and Society and Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Elizabeth McDonald, Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina 0811, Australia; liz.mcdonald{at}menzies.edu.au

Abstract

This essay outlines key issues raised during a project that aimed to (1) identify the gaps in the international evidence base of systematic reviews of intervention effectiveness relevant to public health decision making to address health inequalities experienced by indigenous people, and (2) identify priority areas and topics for future reviews. A number of indigenous researchers and clinicians invited to participate in the project expressed reservations about the appropriateness and value of conventional systematic reviews of intervention evidence to indigenous health. Ensuring that systematic review methods for indigenous health research meet the needs of those that use them, including indigenous communities themselves, needs to be a key area of ongoing work. The public health group within the Cochrane Collaboration has recognised this as a priority area and initiated exploration of these issues.

  • Systematic review
  • Indigenous
  • public health
  • aboriginal populations
  • public health policy
  • social inequalities
  • health promotion
  • indigenous
  • inequity

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Footnotes

  • Funding Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, Canberra, Australia.

  • Competing interests None.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.