The COVID-19 Resource Centre: an invaluable tool for primary care.

Abstract

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario-based Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) established the COVID-19 Resource Centre (CRC) in March 2020. This platform rapidly became a critical source of clinical and practice guidance for primary care providers, highlighting the importance of effective information synthesis during public health emergencies.

Description: The article discusses the development of the CRC, emphasizing the application of librarianship principles in navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic's information overload and the scarcity of evidence. It outlines the strategies for literature searching, appraisal, and evidence synthesis that were employed to ensure the content's accuracy and utility. The CRC's evolution is presented within the context of its goal to efficiently bridge the gap between evidence and clinical practice, underscoring the collaborative efforts and innovative methodologies that contributed to its success.

Outcomes: The CRC has served as an invaluable resource, attracting close to 185,000 visitors from Ontario, across Canada, and internationally. According to survey feedback, 89% of users reported enhanced knowledge of COVID-19 evidence and policies, and 87% stated that the vaccine information directly informed their practice. These statistics underscore the CRC's role in supporting informed decision-making among healthcare providers.

Discussion: The CRC marked the CEP's first foray into real-time evidence-based tool development. Facing challenges of expanding information volumes, an unpredictable information landscape, and the need for swift adaptation to new developments, the CRC emerged as a critical resource, enhancing credibility for the CEP, and fostering new partnerships. This journey underscores the importance of librarianship skills-critical appraisal, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation-in enhancing service delivery.