Do you want to get involved in helping to develop ADA's Evidence Analysis Library?

Expert Work Group: Responsibilities & How to Apply

Evidence Analysts: Responsibilities Please read all of this information before sending your resume.
Application: Information on how to apply to become an ADA Evidence Analyst.

Important Deadlines

Expert Workgroup Member Appointments How to Apply

Read about the responsibilities of Work Group members

Workgroup Members needed for a new EAL project on Wound Care. The focus will be on evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines and the time commitment will span 18-24 months. Deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Please forward all nominations (include CV, if available) and questions to Anna Neuendorf at aneuendorf@eatright.org.

Workgroup members are appointed by the Workgroup Selection Sub-committee, a sub-group of the Evidence-Based Practice Committee. Nominees will be appointed on the basis of being "experts" in the topic field as shown by their practice and/or research experience in the field of interest.

The Selection Sub-committee seeks to obtain approximately six workgroup members per topic, with a balance of researchers and practitioners participating. Selection is based on the following criteria:

• Participation in research
• Participation in research that pertains to workgroup topic
• Authoring of articles in peer reviewed journals
• Authoring of articles in peer reviewed journals that pertain to workgroup topic
• Practitioner experience
• Practitioner experience that pertains to workgroup topic
• Presentation of ideas in public forum (lectures, abstract presentations, etc.)
• Experience on past workgroups (ADA or other)

To nominate yourself or others for an upcoming project please email Anna Neuendorf at aneuendorf@eatright.org.

Evidence Analyst Description

Next Evidence Analysis Training Workshops in Chicago, IL will be in September 16-17, 2010. Deadline to apply is August 1, 2010. Space is limited.

Evidence Analysts who contribute to the ADA online Evidence Analysis Library are ADA member volunteers who have been trained in the ADA evidence analysis process.

Responsibilities

• Complete evidence-based practice training workshop (2 days)*
• Read and analyze assigned articles: complete worksheets and quality rating checklists using ADA's framework according to assignments
• Draft evidence summaries: synthesize the range of research findings into a brief, easy-to-read summary of "what we know."
• Develop overview summary tables based on information in the evidence summaries
• Enter worksheets, summaries, overview tables, and conclusion statements on the ADA portal using a standardized format and web tools;
• Communicate with Lead Analyst and ADA Staff; Invoice ADA promptly for completed work;
• Assist Lead Evidence Analyst in communicating findings to members of ADA working groups and ADA staff.

* ADA holds 2 -3 Evidence Analysis Training Workshops per year as needed.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in nutrition (Masters, Ph.D. or Ph.D. candidate)
• Strong analytic skills (ability to abstract critical information and research characteristics from technical articles)
• Ability to produce consistent work in a timely manner
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to use computer and web-based programs and tools

Time Commitment

Flexible hours, part time or periodic. Evidence analysts are expected to produce worksheets for at least sixty articles with a minimum two year commitment (an estimated 2-3 hours of work per week). Depending on Evidence Analyst availability and ADA need, the number of articles analyzed per year may vary. ADA is flexible with student schedules and time commitments. [Some analysts complete 60 articles in 1 year; others take 2-3 years to complete the 60 articles. However, ADA does ask all analysts to make a commitment to review/analyze at least 60 articles following their training.]

Computer Requirements

The work of ADA's Evidence Analysis projects is accomplished ONLINE. Analysts must have access to a computer with internet access (preferably high speed). No special software is required; all of the tools and templates are provided online on ADA's portal. Minimum requirements to complete the necessary worksheets and online forms located on ADA's portal are:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
• 800 x 600 screen resolution in 256 colors (1024x768 is better)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free download) and Java, JavaScript (also a free download) must be installed on your computer
• Analysts must set their computers to accept cookies (designate the ADA portal as a trusted site)

Benefits

Professional Development: Evidence Analysts enhance their own knowledge while reviewing articles and creating synthetic evidence summary statements of the current research.

Professional Exposure: Depending on funding levels for the particular project, the ADA seeks to allow evidence analysts to present in person their analytic summaries as opportunities arise; for example, at a meeting of the professional leaders responsible for creating the evidence based guidelines.

Continuing Education Hours: Analysts receive continuing education hours for participation in the Training Workshop.

Pay

Evidence Analysts are volunteers who receive an honorarium according to the following scale:

• $20 per article analyzed
• $40 per evidence summary & conclusion statement
• $ 3 per article included in creation of Overview Table

Based on the ADA’s experience with past projects, abstracting a research article onto the online worksheet template typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours per article. Evidence analysts are also expected to create Evidence Summaries and write the first draft of conclusion statements. An Evidence Summary is a one or two page report that synthesizes multiple articles related to a single question in a given area. Finally, experienced Evidence Analysts may be asked to become a Lead Evidence Analyst on a project. (see job description below)

Status

Evidence Analyst positions are volunteer positions with a stipend. Evidence analysts report to the Lead Analyst and the Project Manager.

How to apply to be an ADA Evidence Analyst

To apply to be an ADA Evidence Analyst, complete this application and send it with your resume/CV, a brief letter of interest, and contact information for references.

Deborah Cummins, Ph.D.

Director, Research and Evidence Analysis

eal@adaevidencelibrary.com

Lead Analyst Job Description & How to Apply

Lead Analysts are experienced ADA evidence analysts who have taken on additional responsibilities within a project. If interested, please contact ADA Staff at eal@adaevidencelibrary.com

Responsibilities

In addition to all of the responsibilities for an Evidence Analyst (listed above), a Lead Analyst must also:

• Participate in expert Work Group teleconferences as needed
• Conduct literature searches, create sort lists, and order articles
• Manage the project using the project management tool on ADA's online forum to assign articles to analysts and review worksheets and summaries prior to submitting them to work groups for approval
• Communicate findings and status of project to members of ADA work groups and ADA staff

ADA Staff will provide web-based training (i.e., how to create sort lists, how to input items on EAL forum) as needed

Qualifications

In addition to all of the qualifications for an Evidence Analyst (listed above), a Lead Analyst must also have:

• Prior experience working on at least one ADA project as an evidence analyst
• Good research skills, including the ability to conduct bibliographical searches of the available literature on a specific topic
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to be a team leader

Pay

Lead Analysts are volunteers who are paid an honorarium:

• $20 per article analyzed
• $40 per evidence summary & conclusion statement
• $ 3 per article included in creation of Overview Table
• $20 per hour for creating sort lists, participating in work group teleconferences, fulfilling duties as team leader, and accomplishing web-based tasks

Status

Lead Analyst positions are volunteer positions with a stipend. Lead analysts report to the Project Manager and ADA Director of Evidence Analysis.

How to apply to become a Lead Analyst

To apply to be an ADA Lead Analyst, send a brief email stating your interest in becoming a lead analyst and attach (1) an updated resume/CV and (2) an evidence summary (or web links to evidence summaries) that you wrote to:

Deborah Cummins, Ph.D.

Director, Research and Evidence Analysis

eal@adaevidencelibrary.com

Important Deadlines

The next Evidence Analyst Training Workshop is scheduled for September 16-17, 2010. Deadline to apply is August 1, 2010. Because computer and internet access is necessary for training, participation is limited. If we are not able to invite you to participate in this workshop, your application can remain on file to be considered for the next workshop.

ADA Members -- Volunteer for 2010-2011 The deadline is past and the link has been removed. It will be re-posted for the 2011-12 program year.

• Opportunities to Serve … We hope you will consider volunteering to serve on an Association committee or task force during the 2010-2011 program year. Although we cannot ensure that everyone who volunteers will be selected to serve, every effort will be made to consider your unique talents during the appointment process of Association committees. Thanks in advance for your time and interest. We appreciate your willingness to give so generously of your talents!

Information updated 6-7-2010