The development of an evidence based resource for burns care

There currently exists a need for evidence-based information and tools in burns care. It was therefore the aim of a working party of the Joanna Briggs Institute to establish an evidence based resource to assist professionals in the burns community to practice evidence based healthcare.

After receiving initial funding to create this resource, a steering committee was developed consisting of representatives of the funding agencies and Joanna Briggs Institute staff. This evolved into a tiered international reference group to provide feedback, topic suggestions, and content for the resource. Resources were developed systematically based upon an agreed taxonomy, and included evidence summaries, recommended procedures, audit criteria and information for consumers/patients.

As of 2012, the resource is now available online. There are 63 international experts on the reference groups providing feedback on all of the resources available. There are 102 evidence summaries covering a wide range of burns topics online, 55 recommended practices, 13 audit topics and 33 consumer information pamphlets.

This paper outlines the details and processes surrounding the development of the JBI Burns Node, and how it has grown from humble beginnings into a resource that can assist in the translation of evidence into practice for burns care professionals.