Auckland to host prestigious evidence-based healthcare meeting

New Zealand will for the first time host the annual meeting of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international network that produces high quality, independent information to help medical practitioners, consumers and policy makers with their healthcare decisions.

The 20th Cochrane Colloquium, on the theme “Evidence around the globe”, will be held from 30 September to 3 October 2012 at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. It is hosted by the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre, based at The University of Auckland’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and co-led by the University’s Professor Cindy Farquhar and Dr Mark Jeffery of Christchurch.

Examples of the issues to be discussed include whether we can trust the research used to guide healthcare decisions, how to prevent over-diagnosis of disease, whether research evidence can reduce health inequalities, and how evidence has been turned into action in New Zealand.

Amongst the international speakers are Richard Smith, director of the United Health Chronic Disease Initiative and former editor of the British Medical Journal; Dr Norman Swan, host of the Health Report on ABC Radio National; and health journalist and researcher Ray Moynihan.

Plenary speakers from The University of Auckland include biostatistician Professor Thomas Lumley, general practice and primary healthcare expert Professor Bruce Arroll, and epidemiologist Professor Rod Jackson.

The event has already drawn more than 500 delegates from around the world including leading systematic review methodologists, guideline developers and policy makers.

Further information can be found at: http://colloquium.cochrane.org