JOSEPHINE KAVANAGH

Biography: I graduated from University of North London in 2001 after completing an MA in Information Services Management.  I have been working in the field of evidence based practice since 1999.  I have been involved in the development of national evidence based clinical practice guidelines for NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) and have undertaken systematic reviews for the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group.  At the EPPI-Centre since 2002, I have conducted systematic reviews of interventions with health and educational outcomes.

Title: Overview of evidence-based practice in education and the work of the EPPI Centre

Summary: This paper will discuss the arguments for evidence based practice in education.  An overview of systematic review methods will be provided which will provide an opportunity to explore why the specialist skills of the librarian are of such high value to researchers undertaking a review.  The work of the EPPI-Centre will be discussed with illustrative examples of some completed reviews, and the resources it provides.  The paper will conclude with an outline of future developments and challenges.