Submit your evidence gaps to Veterinary Evidence

Veterinary Evidence, RCVS Knowledge’s flagship journal, has launched an initiative that will allow practitioners to submit questions on the evidence gaps they encounter.

Dubbed the PICO Project, the scheme will initially run via a series of specialism-specific surveys that let respondees select individual species or topics and input the research questions they would like to see covered within Veterinary Evidence.

The first survey will focus on equine practice, with subjects ranging from husbandry to infectious diseases

Knowledge will make the list of submitted questions available online for the veterinary community to answer as Knowledge Summaries (Critically Appraised Topics), which will be peer-reviewed and published in the open-access journal.

Professor Peter Cockroft, recently appointed Editor-in-chief of Veterinary Evidence, explained:

“The practice of evidence-based veterinary medicine is an empowering process for practicing veterinarians that enables important gaps in knowledge to be identified. It is the bridge between research and clinical practice.

“If you have a clinical question that may shape the care of a patient, Veterinary Evidence may have the best current answer or will add the question to the growing archive of important information needs.”

The first survey to launch – open now – will focus on equine practice, with possible subjects ranging from the likes of husbandry or vaccination to infectious diseases.

To ask for the evidence on a particular area, simply choose your topic in the survey’s drop-down menus and fill in up to five related questions, preferably in Population Intervention Comparison Outcome format (see right). 

Livestock will be the focus for the next survey, due to open alongside the BCVA Congress in October. Further surveys will look at canines, felines and other specialisms.

To keep up to date with the list of PICO questions being answered or available to be answered, visit Veterinary Evidence and follow @RCVSKnowledge on Twitter.

If you wish to become an author of a Knowledge Summary for publication in the journal, contact the Managing Editor at [email protected].