Abstract

All of us are recipients of health care, and most of the ICOH Congress participants also provide health services. As patients and providers we expect that the service being rendered stands on a solid scientific base. Nowadays, with the expansion of publications and communication channels, we hear a lot about evidence-based practice (EBP) and systematic reviews. Systematic reviews, are the most important type of scientific review because they are central to evidence-based practice, but they can be misunderstood or even intimidating to some. Examination of the contributions of systematic reviews to occupational health and the processes to get familiarised, became a user and participate in the implementation of evidence-based practices to prevent work-related disorders. Locating pertinent Cochrane resources and reviews, and defining what are answerable questions and eligible sources of evidence for a Cochrane Review. Examples will focus on a Cochrane review that examined the effectiveness of enforcement tools for preventing occupational diseases and injuries and a second one that examined interventions to promote the use of hearing protections and other efforts to control noise and promote hearing loss prevention. To be able to offer evidence-based practices, occupational health professional need to recognise the need and approaches that will allow him/her to be a lifelong learner, by keeping current with evidence-based professional practice, and engage in continuing competence and professional development activities.