“Join the Global Effort: Help WHO/Europe Identify Digital Health Solutions for Climate Change”
The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) is collaborating with Cochrane Crowd on a publication to explore the potential of digital health solutions in addressing climate change-related health issues. This initiative aims to accelerate the process by engaging volunteers to review and classify relevant studies, ultimately aiding WHO/Europe in understanding the impact of digital solutions on climate-related health challenges.
Dr. David Novillo Ortiz, Regional Adviser for Data and Digital Health at WHO/Europe, emphasized the importance of identifying innovative digital health solutions to shape public health strategies and enhance healthcare preparedness in the face of the climate crisis.
Cochrane Crowd has launched a special task in response to WHO/Europe’s request, focusing on identifying digital health technologies that can help manage climate-change-related health problems and reduce the health sector’s carbon footprint. With a substantial number of search results to assess, volunteers are encouraged to participate in this initiative.
Digital health technologies encompass a wide range of tools and applications that leverage information and communication technology to improve human health and healthcare services. Examples include mobile apps, virtual medical appointments, fitness trackers, and virtual reality training for medical procedures. A specialized training module will be provided to assist volunteers in their classification efforts.
Cochrane Crowd is a global community of volunteers dedicated to classifying healthcare research studies to support evidence-based decision-making in healthcare. By participating in this initiative, volunteers can enhance their skills in evidence assessment, stay informed about the latest research developments, and contribute to the global healthcare community.
Anna Noel-Storr, manager of the Cochrane Crowd platform, expressed excitement about the collaboration with WHO and highlighted the opportunity for volunteers to directly contribute to global health research and make a meaningful impact on climate change.
Participation in Cochrane Crowd is open to all and does not require prior experience in healthcare research. Volunteers can benefit from online training, stay updated on healthcare research, and contribute to the WHO review on digital health technology and climate change. Additionally, volunteers have the opportunity to earn named acknowledgement in the review and potentially gain Cochrane membership.
Dr. Israel Junior Borges do Nascimento, WHO consultant and lead author, emphasized the significance of identifying effective digital health solutions to advance research and empower individuals to protect their health in the face of climate change.
The task will be active throughout July 2024, and interested individuals can participate by visiting the Cochrane Crowd website, logging in or signing up, and accessing the task “Digital health technology and climate change” in the ‘Tasks’ panel. This collaborative effort between WHO/Europe and Cochrane Crowd offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to contribute to climate action and global health research.