Western Australian Group for Evidence Informed Healthcare Practice

The Western Australian Group for Evidence Informed Healthcare Practice (WAGEIHP) was established in 1997 and is a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence. Located in the Curtin School of Nursing, we undertake a range of practice oriented research activities to improve clinical practice and healthcare outcomes in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework. 


nurse with elderly patient - evidence based healthcare

About us

Our core business is synthesising evidence for use by clinicians and/or consumers. Evidence formats include systematic reviews and evidence summaries with subsequent recommendations for practice.

Topics for the systematic reviews and evidence summaries are guided by clinicians to ensure relevance to practice and enhance the implementation of the evidence into clinical practice (knowledge translation). WAGEIHP also has a particular focus on evidence synthesis for wound healing and management.

Systematic reviews

WAGEIHP conducts and publishes systematic reviews. Systematic reviews encompass systematic literature searches, critical appraisal of the research, data extraction and subsequent synthesis of the data to answer a clinical question. Systematic reviews can be of qualitative and/or quantitative studies and WAGEIHP core members have particular expertise in reviews of qualitative studies.

Core members who have undergone systematic review training work with clinicians, students and academics at all stages through to publication to ensure a systematic, rigorous process. Many of our more recent published systematic reviews can be found in the journal JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports.

Wound Healing and Management Node

WAGEIHP was granted approval to establish the Wound Healing and Management Node within JBI COnNECT+ in 2009. Wounds Australia is a joint partner with JBI in this venture.

The node aims to:

  • accurately inform clinicians, patients and policy makers of the best available evidence on wound management and shaping the application of that knowledge in the clinic and community
  • ensure that the evidence provided remains relevant by being reviewed and updated on a regular basis
  • synthesise evidence and make recommendations for wound management specifically for use in low to middle income communities.

These are achieved by a systematic, rigorous process of synthesising available evidence and disseminating the findings with recommendations for practice through the JBI Evidence Based Practice Database (OVID), HINARI and the journal Wound Practice and Research.

A taxonomy of topics relating to wound healing and management guide the development of evidence-based summaries; additional topics can be included and suggestions are welcome (see contact details).

Two reference groups comprising professionals with expertise in wound healing and management contribute to the development of the evidence based summaries and the recommended practices which are subsequently peer reviewed.

Our aims

In collaboration with clinicians, researchers and students, we aim to:

  • conduct systematic reviews and develop evidence summaries
  • participate in the dissemination and implementation of best practice and evaluate the impact on clinical practice
  • contribute to cost effective health care through the promotion of evidence informed practice.

Partnerships

We are one of over 70 JBI collaborating centres throughout the world. WAGEIHP also partners with Royal Perth Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital and Wounds Australia.