Why do we need systematic reviews to inform healthcare decisions in the disaster context

Abstract

Decision-making in the disaster setting is often guided by the precautionary principle and the pressure to do something. All such actions do not necessarily translate into improved outcomes, however well-reasoned and well-intentioned they might be. Systematic reviews of interventions could provide the credible evidence needed to inform decision-making in the disaster context. In this paper, which was presented at the Evidence Aid Symposium on 20 September 2014, at Hyderabad, India, I emphasize this point by reflecting upon the response to the recent pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.

Keywords: Disaster; evidence aid; healthcare decision; systematic reviews.