The COVID-19 Resource Centre: an invaluable tool for primary care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Information Science
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Established in March 2020 by the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The COVID-19 Resource Centre (CRC) rapidly became a vital source for clinical and practice guidance for primary care providers.
• Highlighted the critical need for effective information synthesis during public health emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the development and impact of the COVID-19 Resource Centre (CRC).
• To emphasize the application of librarianship principles in managing pandemic-related information overload and evidence scarcity.
• To showcase how the CRC bridged the gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Employed librarianship principles for literature searching, appraisal, and evidence synthesis.
• Focused on ensuring the accuracy and utility of clinical guidance.
• Utilized collaborative efforts and innovative methodologies for content development.

Main Results:

• Attracted nearly 185,000 visitors globally, with significant reach within Ontario and Canada.
• 89% of users reported increased knowledge of COVID-19 evidence and policies.
• 87% of users indicated that vaccine information from the CRC directly influenced their clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• The CRC demonstrated the value of real-time, evidence-based tool development.
• Successfully navigated challenges of information volume, landscape unpredictability, and rapid adaptation.
• Underscored the importance of librarianship skills (appraisal, synthesis, knowledge translation) in healthcare service delivery.