Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110117

Andrijana Rajic, Dr¹, Jan Sargeant, Dr², and Susan Read, Dr¹. (1) Policy Advice and Effectiveness Program, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, 160 Research Lane, Guelph, ON N1G 5B2, Canada, 519 826 2346, andrijana_rajic@phac-aspc.gc.ca, (2) Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N3Z5, Canada

Methods for evaluating the scientific evidence range from highly formal, quantitative information syntheses to subjective summaries of observational data. Systematic review methodology has been successfully and extensively used in the health care setting to develop 'best evidence practice guidelines' that assist clinicians and policy makers to make informed health care decisions and only to a limited extent in veterinary public health. Our research group has initiated two independent but complementary systematic reviews on targeted agri-food public health issues. This paper describes a single systematic review, which has been conducted to address one selected aetilogy and risk factor type of question in veterinary public health. The objective of the review was to evaluate the evidence on potential association between Johne's disease in cattle and Crohn's disease in humans. The review was conducted using an Electronic Systematic Review (ESR) format, which allowed for all steps of the review to be conducted and documented electronically. The results of the review will be presented and discussed, including the challenges associated with performing systematic reviews on etiology and risk factor questions. The needs, gaps and opportunities for building a capacity for conducting systematic reviews in veterinary public health will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Review systematic review methodology
• Describe the procedure for conducting systematic review using selected aetiology/risk factor question in veterinary public health
• Evaluate the suitability of this procedure in support of the policy making in veterinary public health

Keywords: Food Safety, Evidence Based Practice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation