Author Archives: andreasilva

CD61: BIREME hosts a booth at PAHO to showcase products and services

BIREME, the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, is hosting a booth during the 61st PAHO Directing Council (CD61), from September 30 to October 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C., United States, at the Organization’s headquarters. The session, which brings together health ministers and other sector leaders from across the Americas, is ideal for BIREME to highlight its innovations in digital health and its strategic projects developed in technical cooperation with the countries of the region.

BIREME’s booth is located at the entrance of PAHO Headquarters and presents an immersive experience for participants, with the use of two large format LED screens. “On these screens, we are projecting provocative questions aimed at stimulating reflection on the capacity for disseminating information in countries’ health systems,” said BIREME director João Paulo, who is taking part in the event. “These are questions that can support our technical and political dialog with country representatives, demonstrating how technical cooperation with BIREME is capable of improving access to health information, both for the health system and services, as well as for professionals and citizens.”

Seven questions to assess your health system’s information dissemination capacity

1. How effective is your health system at providing rapid access to accurate health information for professionals and citizens?

2. Are national health guidelines and protocols easily accessible to frontline professionals and decision-makers?

3. Does your health system use data and research to identify and address gaps in the dissemination of health information?

4. Is your country’s scientific and technical knowledge more evenly distributed, from rural areas to urban centers?

5. Is your health system prepared to respond quickly to the most frequently asked questions by health professionals?

6. How does your health system identify priority areas for investment in research and innovation?

7. How does your health system provide citizens and professionals with the knowledge they need to make informed health decisions?

New hotsite displays information related to BIREME Strategy 2023-2025, main health information products and services available and highlights from the Technical Cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean Countries.

BIREME Strategy 2023-2025: hotsite highlights projects and products

BIREME is also presenting a hotsite designed to complement the visitor’s experience at the booth. The hotsite presents visually appealing content aimed at authorities and participants from PAHO Member States, providing access to essential information about BIREME’s Strategy 2023-2025, as well as the products, services, and projects that have been accelerated by advanced digital technologies and an agile management approach.

“At the booth of BIREME during CD61, users can also pick up bookmarks printed with QR codes that will direct visitors to the new hotsite, allowing them to explore the work carried out by BIREME in more detail, even after the event,” said Verônica, who is also attending the event in person.

The hotsite highlights the main axes of the BIREME Strategy 2023-2025, which focuses on the transition to information products and services 4.0, aligned with the digital frontiers, such as artificial intelligence applied to health and the use of big data. This strategy drives BIREME’s mission to provide reliable scientific and technical information essential for health decision making at both national and regional levels.

The page also highlights the institutionality of BIREME and its technical cooperation with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), highlighting the ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of health systems to disseminate information and the regional participation of these countries in the Governance of the Center. “This collaboration is essential to increase the impact of public health interventions and ensure that scientific information and knowledge reach health professionals and users in the countries,” said Silvia de Valentin, BIREME’s Manager of Administration, Programs and Projects.

Among the main information products and services already available on the hotsite are:

Virtual Health Library (VHL), one of the largest and most visited health information platforms in the Region;
LILACS, the leading bibliographic database in Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 1 million scientific records;
DeCS/MeSH, a fundamental tool for indexing documents and promoting interoperability among health databases;
Second Formative Opinion (SOF), which helps health professionals resolve clinical questions based on the latest scientific evidence.

BIREME and strategic partnerships

During the 61st Directing Council, BIREME reaffirmed its position as a vital link between national health systems and access to scientific information. “Our mission is clear: to strengthen health systems in the Americas through the dissemination of high-quality, actionable information. Partnerships with ministries of health and other institutions are essential to ensure that this mission is fulfilled,” said João Paulo Souza, Director of BIREME.

During the session, BIREME is also promoting a series of live demonstrations of its digital tools, encouraging the use of platforms such as the Virtual Health Library (VHL) for evidence-based decision making. “At the booth, visitors can explore the services offered by BIREME and learn more about how these solutions can directly impact health information management in their countries,” emphasizes Verônica Abdala.

For Director João Paulo Souza, BIREME’s presence at the 61st PAHO Directing Council reaffirms its commitment to innovation, collaboration and strengthening health systems through the dissemination of reliable information. Digital transformation and new technological frontiers are now a reality that BIREME is embracing to create a more informed and healthier future for all.

Please click here to visit the BIREME digital booth hotsite.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/10/08/cd61-bireme-hosts-a-booth-at-paho-to-showcase-products-and-services/

BIREME, Traditional Medicine Global Library, WHO

Advances on the development of the Global Library of Traditional Medicine

On September 11 and 12, BIREME Director João Paulo Souza participated in a global technical meeting organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the Department of Digital Health and Innovation on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional medicine. The meeting, hosted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, India, brought together 60 participants from 15 countries to discuss how AI can contribute to the dissemination and safe use of traditional health practices.

The program included strategic topics that support and advance the development of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL), which is coordinated by BIREME. “The TMGL is a specialized digital library designed to promote health and well-being by providing access to scientific and technical information on traditional, indigenous, complementary and integrative medicines for health professionals and practitioners of traditional medicine, policy-makers, researchers and the general public,” said João Paulo Souza, Director of BIREME.

In addition to being a repository of this information, the TMGL will enable the registration of specialized scientific journals, local scientific, technical and policy productions, as well as the confidential deposit of traditional knowledge, with the aim of protecting the intellectual property of this knowledge by indigenous populations and local communities. This is a joint project of two specialized centers, BIREME and the WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine (GTMC).

Agile development

According to the Director of BIREME, it is important to note that TMGL is BIREME’s first information product being developed using the Scrum approach. “In this agile approach, development takes place in a participatory, incremental and user-centred way, with monthly releases of new features,” says Souza. Version 0.1 (alpha) will be launched on 31 October 2024, and the first full version (1.0) will be launched during the WHO’s Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, scheduled for November 2025.

The TMGL will consist of a global portal, six regional portals for the WHO regions and 194 country-specific pages. According to the project, this structure will allow information on traditional, indigenous, complementary and integrative health practices to be integrated with conventional health practices, providing an accessible global platform based on scientific evidence. “The Scrum approach allows the library’s content and functionalities to be built with the active participation of a community of users and testers, ensuring that regional and cultural needs are respected,” the Director emphasised.

Artificial inteligence applications

In João Paulo Souza’s view, “the future of information products will be largely conversational, interactive and largely audiovisual”. In this sense, BIREME’s research and development activities have advanced in the use of Large Language Models (LLMs), which allow a more natural and easier interaction with scientific and technical information. As BIREME’s developments are consolidated, they will be integrated into the Virtual Health Libraries and the TMGL.

These technological innovations and other methodological approaches will help to link ancestral knowledge with current health practices in an effective, safe and culturally appropriate way. Two focus discussion groups were held during the meeting in India to gather input from participants and define technical specifications that will be incorporated into the next versions of the TMGL.

Southeast Asia Regional Portal

In addition to his participation in the technical meeting, BIREME’s Director visited the WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia (SEARO), where he met with the region’s focal point for traditional medicine, Dr. Pawan Godatwar, and Ms. Maki Kajiwara and Mr. Manjeet Saluja, from the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC). The meeting aimed to discuss the development of the TMGL regional portal for Southeast Asia, one of the first regional portals to be implemented, alongside the Americas portal.

Invitation to the global community of users and testers

During the mission, João Paulo Souza also reiterated the invitation to global partners to join the TMGL Community, a group of users and testers who will have early access to the platform to provide feedback on its functionalities and content. The community has been invited to visit the website currently under development [click here to access], where they can follow monthly updates and participate in the project’s evolution. “The creation of this community is fundamental to ensure that TMGL meets the expectations and needs of its users, while respecting the regional and cultural specificities of each country,” he said.

The development of TMGL materializes BIREME’s digital transformation efforts, with advanced products and agile processes. According to the director, “digital transformation has two components: digital technology and agile work processes. The development of TMGL seeks to shape the digital transformation of technical cooperation, with the development of an information product centered on the needs of these projects, with incremental deliveries, and in an agile and participatory manner.”

An image shows the banner available on the homepage of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Library. Click on the image to visit the website. — Homepage of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Library. Please click on the image to visit the web portal.

**Source:**https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/10/08/advances-on-the-development-of-the-global-library-of-traditional-medicine/

BIREME, DeCS, LILACS, VHL

Strategy and innovation: priority development routes

Hotsite highlights the BIREME Strategy 2023-2025, with new routes for development and innovation in projects, products and services. Click on the image to visit the online page.

In order to improve its products and processes, BIREME has set itself targets for technological innovation, with a focus on delivering value to users. The strategy adopted prioritizes the implementation of agile methodologies, strengthening the organizational culture, encouraging the sharing of ideas and the constant search for innovative solutions that add practical and immediate value to the needs of those who use the Center’s services and products.

“As an important initial step towards integrating new technologies into the product development process, we organized several meetings with specialists in artificial intelligence, with the main focus on developing and implementing solutions,” highlighted Marcos Mori, Coordinator of Solutions Development and Emerging Technologies (DEV).

After analyzing a number of solutions and tools, it was decided to use ChatGPT Plus (subscription version) to support the development and documentation of products and projects. The resource will also support computer language translation, error correction and code optimization. “The tool is improving efficiency in the process. In addition, we are dedicated to curating our current products and developing new projects,” continued Marcos Mori. Some of the outstanding initiatives are described below.

Text generation and search interface with natural language

ChatGPT is being studied to assist in the creation of texts for the Second Opinion Formative Program (SOF) and for the Decision Aids project, with the aim of facilitating the writing, revision and generation of answers. According to BIREME’s development team, tests have already demonstrated its usefulness, but human review is still essential to guarantee the quality of technical and scientific content. The development and testing of natural language search functionality, which will seek to improve access to information, including conversational search, is also planned.

Automatic indexing of documents

BIREME’s DEV team is implementing Annif, an automatic indexing tool that uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to improve information management. “It can be trained with controlled vocabularies, such as DeCS/MeSH, that ensures accurate suggestions and supports several languages. Currently, the tool is being trained with documents from LILACS,” explains Coordinator Mori. The launch of DeCS Finder as a “semi-automatic indexing” solution is planned for this year.

Technical teams, supervisors and coordinators in a series of meetings to align and plan BIREME’s new development routes.

Incorporation of LLMs into the VHL: super abstracts, similar DOCS and narrative summaries

Large Scale Language Models (LLMs) are being incorporated into the Virtual Health Library (VHL) to create super summaries, similar DOCS and narrative summaries. The super summaries, with two to three sentences, are generated from document titles and summaries, and will serve as the basis for future Similar DOCS and narrative summaries. These syntheses summarize information from articles, making it easier for users to access them. The aim is to reduce processing effort by generating clear content from the five most relevant articles in VHL searches.

ChatGPT specialized in LILACS and DeCS

ChatGPT Plus is being specialized to improve the analysis of answers on LILACS and DeCS, essential methodologies in scientific health literature. The aim is to create a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) to support the VHL network and its users. The model has been trained with texts on these methodologies, and internal tests are being carried out to assess the quality of the answers. The solution is in the validation phase, with continuous adjustments for improvement.

Personalization of content in the VHL through a predictive model

The project aims to improve the “My VHL” functionality with advanced personalization, based on users’ preferences and usage history. The new predictive search will adapt results to search behavior and patterns, including geospatial analysis. The aim is to provide more efficient experience, allowing access to information of interest without active searches, as well as adapting results to the user’s regional needs, such as health professionals and researchers.

Recognizing the importance of incorporating new technologies, improving products and services and enhancing the user experience, BIREME has the support of a consultant specializing in artificial intelligence. In addition, there is institutional encouragement for professional improvement through specific courses. Marcos Mori points out: “This has allowed us to optimize our processes and promote continuous improvement in the quality of the services offered, guaranteeing innovation and efficiency in our operations.”

These advances establish an important step forward in the use of AI in BIREME’s products and information systems, and reinforce the institutional commitment of technical cooperation to offer faster and more effective responses to VHL users and to the health sciences information systems of the countries in the region.

The Digital Solutions and Emerging Technologies Development team, responsible for executing and implementing innovations across BIREME’s projects.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/10/08/strategy-and-innovation-priority-development-routes/

Honduras, VHL Honduras

La BVS Honduras renueva su Comité Consultivo y se compromete con el acceso equitativo a la información en salud

Tegucigalpa, 12 de septiembre de 2024 (OPS/OMS). El Comité Consultivo de la BVS Honduras realizó una reunión extraordinaria para incorporar nuevos miembros e instituciones, incluyendo la nueva coordinadora del comité. La agenda incluyó un reconocimiento a la Dra. Jackeline Alger, quien fungió en ese cargo desde el 2011.

Representantes de la Secretaría de Salud, Hospital Escuela, UNAH/Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, UNICAH, Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social, Instituto Antonio Vidal, OPS/OMS estuvieron presentes en la reunión.

“Hoy celebramos con orgullo a la Dra. Jackeline Alger, quien ha sido un pilar fundamental en la salud pública de Honduras, nos deja un legado de inspiración en Salud Pública”, dijo Ana Emilia Solís, Representante de la OPS/OMS en Honduras.

Galardonada como Notable de la Salud Pública en 2022 por la OPS, su liderazgo como Coordinadora del Comité Consultivo de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud de Honduras, desde 2011 hasta junio de 2024, ha transformado el acceso a la información en salud en el país.
Durante más de una década, su compromiso inquebrantable con la investigación, la innovación y las alianzas estratégicas ha fortalecido los recursos disponibles para profesionales y ciudadanos. Su labor fue crucial dirigiendo al Comité durante la pandemia de COVID-19, asegurando que los servicios de información continuaran brindando apoyo de manera eficaz y oportuna.

Joao Paulo Souza, Director de BIREME y Verónica Abdala acompañaron virtualmente haciendo un reconocimiento especial a Jackeline por su papel en la gestión e innovación de la BVS a lo largo de estos años.

“Aunque deja su cargo como coordinadora, su legado sigue vivo y es un honor para mí asumir esta posición en su lugar”, dijo Melissa Mejía, indicando que el mayor homenaje para Jackeline es mantener los logros y abordar los desafíos pendientes.

Cecilia García, Secretaria técnica del Comité dijo “Damos la bienvenida a la Dra. Melissa Mejía, quien, con el apoyo de BIREME y las instituciones nacionales, continuará impulsando este esfuerzo por una Honduras más saludable y equitativa”. Cecilia hizo una breve reseña de ambas profesionales destacando su compromiso con el acceso equitativo a la información en salud.

Fuente: https://www.paho.org/es/noticias/12-9-2024-bvs-honduras-renueva-su-comite-consultivo-se-compromete-con-acceso-equitativo

BIREME, VHL Indigenous People

BIREME and SESAI advance in the implementation of the VHL for Indigenous Health with new alignments and partnerships

In continuity with efforts to strengthen indigenous health in Latin America and the Caribbean by promoting the visibility, access and use of the scientific and technical literature produced in the region, since the beginning of 2024, BIREME/PAHO/WHO and the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (SESAI/MS) have dedicated significant efforts to advancing on the various fronts of the project. The activities take place in the context of Technical Cooperation Agreement 93, in its fourth Amendment (TA4/TC93). Below are the highlights of the project over the last six months.

1. Alignment of the work plan and holding a workshop

After two face-to-face meetings held in February and April 2024, it was possible to align the VHL Indigenous Health work plan with SESAI’s priorities, consolidating a strategic cooperation with Fiocruz. This alliance aims to integrate the initiatives of the Indigenous Health VHL and the Health of Indigenous Peoples VHL, optimizing resources and expanding the impact of the VHL throughout Brazil. Besides the teams from SESAI, BIREME, and Fiocruz, the alignment of the work plan also involved representatives from the General Coordination of Documentation and Information of Brazil’s Ministry of Health (CGDI/MS) and PAHO Brazil.

2. Setting strategic goals

Based on the integration of initiatives in favor of the Indigenous Health VHL, four strategic goals were defined, listed below. For each goal, the activities and main expected results were defined.

Goal 1 – Analysis and prospecting of innovative information technologies and methodologies aimed at improving transparency and dissemination of information and knowledge in the area of indigenous peoples’ health. It includes the improvement of the Health of Indigenous Peoples VHL.

Goal 2 – Analysis of actions identified for improving organizational effectiveness to strengthen national indigenous health policies and strategies, with the mapping and analysis of scientific and technical information available in the VHL.

Goal 3 – Analysis based on bibliographic governance, in relation to the need for adequate management of SESAI’s collection, considering its organization and cataloguing of scientific and technical publications. It includes the development of a SESAI database.

Goal 4 – Enable the exchange of experiences and dissemination of knowledge between health systems and services promoted and shared within the scope of national and international cooperation.

3. New portal of the Health of Indigenous Peoples VHL

One of the most eagerly awaited achievements is the creation of the new portal of the Health of Indigenous Peoples VHL, whose specifications have already been completed. Expected to be launched by the end of 2024, the portal will serve as a tool for health professionals working in indigenous communities, promoting and facilitating access to relevant and up-to-date content.

4. Diagnosis and implementation of the governance structure

A comprehensive diagnosis of the Health of Indigenous Peoples VHL was carried out, recommending the implementation of an efficient governance structure. This structure will allow a collaborative flow for the continuous updating of information sources, ensuring the relevance and quality of the collection.

5. Mapping of institutions and researchers

The preliminary mapping of institutions and researchers involved in indigenous health has been completed and will be reviewed and complemented by specialized consultants. The aim of the mapping is to seek to expand the VHL’s collection, reflecting the wealth and diversity of research in the area.

6. Survey with Indigenous Health Professionals

Carried out by BIREME in 2022, a detailed survey of health professionals working in indigenous communities in the state of Mato Grosso (Brazil) identified some of the main needs and challenges in accessing information. The results were presented to the Ministry of Health, which suggested expanding the study and including indigenous communities from other territorial and health contexts. These results should guide the development of new resources and functionalities for the portal, ensuring that the solutions meet the real users’ needs.

7. Development of content evaluation criteria

In order to guarantee the quality and relevance of the information available on the VHL, strict criteria have been established for selecting and evaluating the content that will integrate the collection. These criteria will be reviewed and approved by an advisory committee, ensuring that the collection reflects the best practices and knowledge in the area of indigenous health.

“This is a project that has promoted the exchange of experiences and knowledge between different health systems and services, both nationally and internationally. This exchange is key to strengthening health practices and promoting innovations that meet the needs of indigenous populations” highlighted BIREME Director João Paulo Souza.

Information and Knowledge on Indigenous Peoples’ Health

These joint efforts reflect the ongoing commitment of BIREME and SESAI to strengthen information and knowledge management in the area of indigenous health, contributing directly to the improvement of the Unified Health System (SUS) and the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem.

For Veronica Abdala, the project’s focal point at BIREME, “the expectation is that, with the completion of the new portal and the ongoing activities, indigenous populations will have increasing access to scientific and technical information that meets their specific needs, thus contributing to promoting health equity throughout the country”.

Window of knowledge

Mpox Window of Knowledge highlights updated documents for emergency response

On August 14, 2024, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a new outbreak of Mpox to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The decision was prompted by the increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries, which are now facing the spread of a new strain of the virus, clade 1b. This is the second time in two years that Mpox has been declared a PHEIC, underlining the seriousness of the situation and the need for a coordinated international response.

To support health professionals, researchers and the general public in understanding and responding to Mpox, BIREME has updated the Window of Knowledge in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) dedicated exclusively to the topic. The Mpox Window of Knowledge brings together documents, studies, guidelines and resources on the disease, ranging from clinical aspects to prevention and control strategies.

With the detection of a new strain of the clade 1b virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has spread to other countries in Africa and may reach other continents, including the Americas, PAHO reinforces that it is essential that all those involved in the response to the outbreak are well-informed. The Mpox Window of Knowledge serves as a strategic information tool to support surveillance, preparedness and emergency response activities, as outlined in the four PAHO/WHO strategic pillars:

Communication and engagement of at-risk communities: the platform offers educational materials and awareness campaigns aimed at informing communities about Mpox risks and prevention measures.
Timely detection and treatment: provides clinical guidelines and treatment protocols to ensure effective case management and the protection of health workers.
Laboratory confirmation and surveillance: the Window of Knowledge facilitates access to resources on epidemiological surveillance and the containment of transmission chains, which are essential for controlling the spread of the virus.
Access to essential supplies: through international partnerships and guidelines, the platform provides guidance on the use of emergency vaccines and therapies, which are essential for affected countries.

This determination of ESPII is the second in two years related to Mpox. Caused by an Orthopoxvirus, Mpox was first detected in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease is considered endemic in central and western African countries. Focal point at BIREME for the development and publication of the Window of Knowledge VHL collection, librarian Rosemeire Pinto recalls that “the purpose of the Window of Knowledge is to support the dissemination of and access to quality scientific and technical information, facilitating informed decision-making and the implementation of effective public health measures”.

Access the Mpox Window of Knowledge and learn about the latest updates and resources available to tackle this global public health emergency.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/09/04/mpox-window-of-knowledge-highlights-updated-documents-for-emergency-response/

BIREME, Traditional Medicine Global Library, VHL

Progress on the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Global Library

The World Health Organization (WHO) is moving forward with the Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) to systematize a database of knowledge and evidence to inform policies, standards and regulatory frameworks for safe, cost-effective and equitable use. Coordinated with BIREME, the Library aims to consolidate and disseminate knowledge on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM) to strengthen national health policies.

Development of the portal mock-up

One of the most significant recent milestones in the development of the TMGL is the creation of the portal’s mock-up. This structural outline will provide the basis for the global instance of the library and will include regional instances to meet the specific needs of different regions of the world. In other words, each regional office of the World Health Organization will have its own information structure within the Global Library. These are: African Region (AFRO); Region of the Americas (PAHO/AMRO); South-East Asia Region (SEARO); European Region (EURO); Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) and Western Pacific Region (WPRO).

Verônica Abdala, the project’s technical focal point at BIREME, highlights the global group’s concern to ensure that all WHO regions are represented in the new library. “During a recent meeting, we emphasized the importance of getting feedback from the regional focal points to ensure that the regional instances of the library are adapted to local specificities”, she shares. The first version of the mock-up will be presented to the coordination group at the end of July, marking an important step in the achievement of this global resource, reinforced João Paulo Souza, Director of BIREME and general coordinator of the project, in an exchange with the technical focal points.

Rapid review of the literature on digital sources

In parallel with the development of the portal, the TMGL team is in the final stages of preparing a rapid review article on digital sources. This document aims to map and analyze the databases, repositories, digital platforms, libraries, journals and other information sources dedicated to storing scientific information and knowledge on traditional, indigenous, complementary and integrative health practices (TICIM). The rapid review will support the identification of databases and digital sources that can be integrated into the WHO global database, ensuring that the library is a comprehensive and accessible knowledge repository.

Content registry for the TMGL collection

Content registry for the TMGL collection is already underway, following the identification and selection of databases, repositories, journals and reference documents. Moreover, content presented at important international events is being registered, such as the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in Gandhinagar, India, in August 2023, and the WHO Global Technical Coordination Meeting on Traditional Medicine, held in New Delhi, India, in March 2024.

“These events, which brought together experts from all over the world to share knowledge and discuss advances in TCIM, provided a wealth of information for the library,” explained Veronica Abdala, who attended the Technical Meeting in 2024. BIREME was also represented by its director, João Paulo Souza, at the first WHO Summit on this subject, in 2023.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/08/01/progress-on-the-whos-traditional-medicine-global-library/

BIREME, LILACS, MedCarib, VHL

BIREME supports MedCarib and the Caribbean VHL

In the second half of 2024, BIREME is holding a series of five technical sessions especially aimed at the public in English-speaking Caribbean countries. The activities were launched on July 23, with the theme “Indexing documents using the LILACS Methodology”, and a presentation by Sueli Suga, BIREME’s Referential Information Sources Supervisor. The complete schedule of meetings is now available, with a calendar up to November, covering other topics, such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the editorial process of scientific journals; Reference Librarians Network; and Marketing Strategies for the MEDCARIB Network.

The initiative is part of the Center’s 2024-2025 Biennial Work Plan and aims to strengthen the MedCarib Network and the Caribbean Virtual Health Library (VHL), promoting access to scientific and technical information in health produced in the region. Focal point for technical cooperation projects with the countries of the Caribbean region, Marcia Barreto stressed that the technical sessions are also aligned with the strategic plan drawn up jointly with the MedCarib Network during the Virtual Health Library (VHL) Meeting held in November 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil. “Our goal is to support the strengthening of the MedCarib Network and cooperatively build the VHL for the Caribbean countries, promoting BIREME’s mission of facilitating access to scientific and technical information in health, supporting the decisions and guiding the practices of professionals, researchers, students and managers in the region”.

The first session opened with comments and a welcome from João Paulo Souza, Director of BIREME, Victoria Cruickshank-Taylor, Regional Coordinator of the MedCarib Network, and Verônica Abdala, Information Sources Manager at BIREME. The event welcomed 30 participants from five countries: Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Check out the details of the program below.

About the Caribbean VHL

BIREME’s cooperation with the English-speaking Caribbean countries began in 1989 with the creation of the MedCarib database, a database of bibliographic references in the health sciences. This initiative saw the participation of 17 countries, forming the MedCarib Network, which uses the LILACS Methodology to promote the dissemination of scientific and technical information produced in the region.

Currently, the VHL Network and the MedCarib Network have the following instances from countries in the region: the Belize VHL, managed by the Belize National Library Service and Information System; the Guyana VHL, managed by the University of Guyana Library and the Ministry of Health of Guyana; and the Puerto Rico VHL, which operates under the responsibility of the Conrado F. Asenjo Library, Medical Sciences Department of the University of Puerto Rico.

Among the products and services available is MEDCARIB, a bibliographic database that includes documents such as books, book chapters, theses, technical reports, conference proceedings, journal articles and gray literature.

Another important resource is the CARPHA Evidence Portal, a continuously updated repository of research, syntheses and policy documents relevant to the Caribbean. In addition, VHL users in the region also have access to the Belize Database and the Guyana Library Catalog, both of which bring together national health sciences literature.

LILACS, RefNet, VHL

New VHL Search Strategy for Oropouche Fever

On July 16, BIREME launched a new search strategy in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) focused on Oropouche fever. The initiative seeks to respond to the recent epidemiological alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and its updates. In the first half of 2024, and for the first time since 2010, PAHO published a series of six alerts and updates on the situation and the risk to communities. The Oropouche fever has affected communities in five countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, and Colombia, with more than 7,700 reported cases.

Systematic search provides visibility to information

In this context, the new VHL search strategy aims to provide critical information to support the response to the current situation. In July 2024, the VHL search yielded more than 1,300 sources of information on the subject, including 954 full texts, 39 documents from the LILACS database and seven from the PAHO-IRIS repository. It is also noteworthy that, in the last year alone, 103 full texts have been published, mostly in English, covering various research methods such as prognostic, risk factor, etiological and screening studies, among others.

Essential tools for science and public policy

The collection of search expressions in the VHL can also be applied to the development of thematic areas and other information resources, such as Evidence Maps and Knowledge Showcases, among others. The repository publishes the full description, including details of the bibliographic search expressions, which can be adapted to other sources of information such as PUBMED and EMBASE, allowing these searches to be shared and reused. The repository is constantly updated by the VHL Reference Network.

Information for Action in Health

It is part of BIREME’s technical cooperation to support countries, health professionals and decision-makers to use information and scientific evidence to respond adequately to the health needs of affected communities. The new search strategy for Oropouche fever is a significant step in this commitment, offering a solid knowledge base to face the current epidemiological challenges.

Check it out and explore: https://bvsalud.org/queries/search_strategy/oropouche-fever/?l=pt_BR.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/08/01/new-vhl-search-strategy-for-oropouche-fever/

VHL SMS São Paulo

Progress in strengthening the SMS-São Paulo VHL in the first half of 2024

The Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME/PAHO/WHO), in cooperation with the São Paulo Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS-SP), continues to make progress in maintaining, updating and developing the SMS São Paulo Virtual Health Library (VHL). In the first half of 2024, various activities were carried out, including renewing the portal, re-establishing the collaboration network and training SMS-SP’s technical areas. These efforts are part of the Technical Cooperation project, in Phase III of the agreement established between the institutions since 2010, which aims to consolidate and strengthen local information and knowledge management capacities.

Renewal of the SMS-SP VHL portal

One of the main initiatives of the current phase has been the renewal of the SMS-SP VHL portal, an activity that includes reviewing and evaluating the content offered, the information architecture and aspects of usability, considering the opinion and needs of the VHL’s target audience. During the period from January to June 2024, the server on which the SMS São Paulo VHL is hosted was available for use 97.8% of the time. The remaining 2.2% corresponds to scheduled maintenance and security updates. Moreover, the VHL, sub-portals, information sources and integrated search interface were backed up and monitored internally and externally.

Re-establishing the Collaboration Network

In order to guarantee the regular updating and completeness of the databases, the project is implementing the reactivation of the SMS-SP VHL Executive Committee and Advisory Committee to record the scientific and technical output of the Secretariat. In February, a meeting formalized a new agreement to expand the activities coordinated between SMS-SP and BIREME, addressing technical specifications for the development of an application for the SMS-SP VHL. Moreover, a diagnosis on the visibility of SMS-SP’s scientific and technical output was produced to learn about the challenges and expectations of the SMS-SP VHL Network Cooperating Centers, providing valuable considerations for planning future actions. “The suggestions include the creation of spaces to highlight the output of each SMS-SP body, access sections to external portals and databases, and document support and analysis services, holding periodic meetings, varying training schedules, partnerships with the Capes Journal Portal, and greater transparency and agility in meeting demands”, mentioned Juliana Sousa, Digital Solutions Supervisor at BIREME.

Training for skills development

Training sessions on registering scientific and technical publications in the SMS-SP VHL databases were held in May, with the participation of professionals from various SMS-SP technical areas. The methodology combined theory and practice, with practical exercises carried out directly in the system. On May 21, the focus was on bibliographic records and notions of database indexing. On May 22, the Website Catalogue (LIS), the Events Directory (DIREVE), Multimedia, Experience Reports and Windows of Knowledge were covered.

The event was attended by 12 representatives from institutions such as the Municipal Health School (EMS), Vila Nova Cachoeirinha and Campo Limpo Hospitals, the People Management Coordination Office (COGEP), the Health Surveillance Coordination Office (COVISA/DVZ), and the Health Region Coordination Offices CRS-Center, CRS-West, CRS-South and CRS-East. Each participant brought examples of documents, selected according to the selection criteria established by the SMS-SP VHL for registration in the respective information source.

Furthermore, with the aim of promoting the continuous improvement of the activities coordinated by BIREME, the participants answered an evaluation survey, measuring the effectiveness of the training and identifying strengths and weaknesses, and including the collection of comments and testimonials from the participants, which can be seen below. The results of the survey showed that the overall evaluation was positive, with 58% of the participants giving it top marks. Most participants considered the face-to-face format to be adequate, and indicated satisfaction with the methodology, the venue, the knowledge of the speakers, the practical activities, the clarity of the information, the dynamics of the practical exercises and the group interaction.

Maintaining operations and new developments

During the semester, BIREME offered continuous technical and methodological support for the regular operation of the SMS-SP VHL portal. Occurrences related to access to the new Google Analytics, guidance on WordPress and information updates on the portal were recorded. Meetings were also held with the SMS-SP team to provide guidance and follow up on database migration activities.

In addition, the teams made progress with the production and publication of a new Window of Knowledge on “COREMU – Multiprofessional Residency Commission“, and four new videos Experience Reports, listed below. BIREME has also produced an instructional video entitled “Tips on how to behave in front of the cameras“, with the participation of COREMU staff at SMS-SP.

The topics of the reports recorded in 2024 were:

Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic: an experience report from the management of the Ignácio Proença de Gouvêa Municipal Hospital in Mooca;
Our main experiences in the municipal Mobile Pre-Hospital Care service in the city of São Paulo – from APH to APH 192 and now SAMU 192;
Life story with Nursing;
Multiprofessional Health Residency Commission of the São Paulo Municipal Secretariat: a report on affirmative actions.

The progress made in the first half of 2024 reflects the commitment of BIREME and SMS-SP to promote the efficient management of knowledge and information in health. The activities developed consolidate the SMS-São Paulo VHL as a vital space for the dissemination of the scientific and technical production of the Secretariat, contributing to the continuous improvement of health services in the municipality of São Paulo.

For more information, visit the SMS-São Paulo VHL portal, https://sms.sp.bvs.br.

Testimonials from workshop participants

Edenir Aparecida Sartorelli, nurse, CRS-West

“I work at the Municipal Health School of the Western Regional Health Coordination (CRS-West), in permanent education.

This training and the discussion of this topic allow us to broaden our view of what can be disseminated, what we need to give visibility to, what outputs of the territory or the secretariat need to be disseminated or have greater visibility, and how to organize this information, these outputs, in a way that facilitates their use on the VHL platform. So, I believe that the relevance is organization, stimulation, dissemination and, in short, the expansion of knowledge, putting knowledge into action.

In our collection, we have worked on completing residencies and specializations in nursing. We also have reports on the experiences of professionals with their equipment, in other words, in the daily practice of their services. We also produce protocols, healthcare flows, videos, training courses, online courses, and many events, among others”.

Hernani Correa Medola, librarian, COVISA/DVZ

“I think this type of training is key because it enables us to make the information developed and produced within the secretariat more accessible to the entire population, which is the main purpose of our service, to give visibility and make this information accessible. This kind of training helps with standardization and the quality of records.

I’m a librarian at the Zoonosis Surveillance Division of the Health Surveillance Coordination (COVISA). Our collection has a multitude of documents, ranging from books, bibliographic material, to reports, manuals, educational material, which is distributed to the population. So, everything that is produced by the Zoonoses Surveillance and Health Surveillance are the materials that make up our collection.”

Marine Arakaki, librarian, Municipal Health School, Coordination of the SMS-SP VHL

“I think this version of face-to-face training was very important. Compared to the previous versions, which were online, in 2022 and 2023, we had a slightly smaller number of participants. However, as it was the first training course after the change of management system to the FI-Admin platform, it was very important that we held face-to-face training. Even so, there were only a few librarians who had this knowledge and close contact with the tool.

And the SMS-SP VHL network is made up of health professionals who are not information professionals, so they need more attention to understand the methodology, fill in the records and define the type of document. And in this respect, I think that BIREME’s training, together with the other colleagues who were present with us, was necessary. There was discussion, people raised their doubts, criticisms, suggestions, in short, I thought it was very useful.”

Tamara Leite Cortez, veterinarian, COVISA/DVZ

“The importance of this type of training is so that, in fact, we can make the records properly, so that they are retrievable and, with that, give visibility to the production, in our case, of COVISA, which is the cooperating center of which I am a member. In fact, BIREME’s training courses always meet my expectations, and this is not the first. I’ve been following the SMS-SP VHL project since its inception in 2009. What I’ve noticed over time is that, despite the turnover of professionals who act as the VHL’s focal point, we’ve managed to see this VHL growing and changing, adapting to today’s conditions.

And that’s where I think the beauty of health information lies in being able to show what we do. Because, as a health professional, I’m a veterinarian, we work a lot and have little time to show what we do. And the VHL gives us this opportunity to democratize information, to have free access to information and, often, to replicate what we do in the units in São Paulo, which have such diverse realities, in other Brazilian states, but, above all, in other countries.”

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2024/07/04/progress-in-strengthening-the-sms-sao-paulo-vhl-in-the-first-half-of-2024/