McMaster Health Forum launches revamped Health Systems Evidence
Improvements to provide health policymakers and stakeholders with better access to research evidence
Health Systems Evidence (HSE) has recently improved its ability to support policymakers, stakeholders and researchers who want access the best available research evidence in a timely manner. The site now features a number of enhancements, including: responsive design to optimize the interface on both desktop and mobile; a more powerful open search function; a guided search option to help inexperienced users quickly find what they need; and the ability to save preferred searches, save retrieved documents and exports results.
“We’re excited to launch the latest version of Health Systems Evidence – a powerful tool to help health-system policymakers, stakeholders and researchers rapidly identify research evidence about how to strengthen health systems and get the right programs, services and drugs to those who need them,” said Dr. John N. Lavis, Director of the McMaster Health Forum. “For all those looking for evidence to support policy decisions, we’re trying to help you do this better or more efficiently.”
Improved search
The revamped version of HSE features a more powerful search engine and improved sort function to ensure the most relevant results are quickly identified. A new user interface further streamlines the process of conducting advanced searches through the application of filters for health-system arrangements (e.g., funding organizations), sectors (e.g., primary care), areas of focus (e.g. specific countries), document features (e.g. type of document or publication date range) or any combination of these. A guided search tool is available for users who want additional assistance in applying filters.
Easier access
“Having reached 11,000 registered users, we decided it was time to make HSE even more accessible,” said Lavis. “HSE no longer requires users to register, but advanced features will be available to the 11,000 users already registered and to those who create a new account.”
These advanced features include the ability to view more than 20 search results, to save preferred searches, subscribe to receive email updates from saved and/or curated searches, and to save and export documents.
Responsive design
The new HSE site features a responsive design, which automatically gives users access to the site in a format optimized for use on their device of choice (e.g. desktop, tablet or mobile).
“The improvements we’ve made to HSE will help users to more easily access the research evidence they want using whatever device they have at hand,” said Lavis.
Health Systems Evidence, a McMaster Health Forum initiative, is the world’s most comprehensive, continuously updated repository of research evidence about governance, financial and delivery arrangements within health systems, and about implementation strategies that can support change in health systems.
