McMasterOptimal Aging PortalMaureen Dobbins1, John N. Lavis2, Parminder Raina3

1 Professor and Scientific Director, National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, McMaster University

2 Professor and Director, McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University

3 Professor, Raymond and Margaret Labarge Chair in Research and Knowledge Application for Optimal Aging, and Canada Research

Chair in GeroScience

CPHAToronto, ON, Canada

28 May 2014

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McMaster Optimal Aging Portal

Evidence Rater

Web Product Rater

ConnectorReminder

Navigator

Contributors - Components

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Contributors - Platforms

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Contributors - Researchers

Dr. Anthony LevinsonDr. Parminder RainaDirector, machealth Labarge Chair in Optimal AgingJohn R. Evans Chair, Health Sciences Educational Canada Research Chair in GeroScienceResearch and Instructional Development Professor, Clinical Epidemiology & BiostatisticsAssociate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences

Dr. Brian HaynesDirector, McMaster PLUSChief, Health Information Research UnitProfessor, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Dr. Maureen DobbinsDirector, Health EvidenceScientific Director, National Collaborating Centre for Methods and ToolsProfessor, School of Nursing

Dr. John LavisDirector, Health Systems EvidenceDirector, McMaster Health ForumProfessor, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics

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Evidence Rater

Contents• McMaster PLUS for clinical evidence (‘my health’)• Health Evidence for public health evidence (‘our

health’)• Health Systems Evidence for health systems evidence

(‘our system’)

Each re-coded to identify evidence relevant to 60+, health promotion & disease prevention, etc. and re-programmed to establish a common platform

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Evidence Rater (2)

FunctionalityFederated search optimized by role (citizen, clinician, public health practitioner or policymaker)Search results sorted by quality (expert driven) and relevance (citizen and clinician driven) using a star or other visually appealing approachUser-friendly summaries prioritized (e.g., lay summaries)Links provided to scientific abstracts and full text (when available)Supplemented by PubMed Clinical Queries when no or limited resultsComplemented by ‘integrated resources’ (e.g., Medline Plus) and by prompts for other types of evidence and other rolesSupported by an evidence service for which users set the topics, relevance and flow

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Web Product Rater

Contents:• Information sheets• Podcasts• Videos• Etc.

Each coded to identify ‘quality’ (evidence base, transparency and usability) and to extract actionable messages

Search results segmented by evidence base and then sorted by ‘quality’ (expert driven) and relevance (citizen driven)

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Web Product Rater (2)Prioritized topics for the short term:• Chronic conditions & multimorbidity• Cognitive impairment• Social isolation• Mobility

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Connector

Content:• Email alerts• Expert blogs (initially focusing on priority topics)• Online forums• Calendar of events• Social sharing tools• Commenting tools• Twitter integration• Facebook integration

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Other ConsiderationsDefault to citizen interface (with option to change it)Basic search functionality without registration; enhanced search functionality with rapid registrationPending partnership should allow full functionality in FrenchExploring partnerships with senior’s groups to support relevance ratingFree to Canadians (and those in low- and middle-income countries)Working with BHSc program to explore scaling/educational opportunitiesApplied to CIHR for funds to support citizen feedback/relevance ratingPlanning to use the portal as a platform for research Open to exploring links to electronic health records

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Broader EngagementDialogue and debate about issues that are important to seniors and caregivers• Citizen panels

• Consultations, formats, REB approval, sampling options, topics

• Citizen briefs and panel summaries• Public events (panels, talks, debates)

• E.g., Thinking Ahead symposium (2-4 April 2014)• Student-led initiatives (panels, talks, debates)

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Broader Engagement (2)Outreach through the media about issues that are important to seniors and caregivers• News service that profiles and places in context

systematic reviews• Support to journalists (modeled on Macleans

partnership) and outreach to media publications• News monitoring (Factiva for newspapers &

newswires) to support• Twitter feed• ‘Hitting the Headlines’ service

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Contact Information

Dr. Maureen Dobbinsdobbinsm@mcmaster.ca905-525-9140 ext. 20455