Cochrane South Africa’s (CSA) Research Methods Portfolio team, under the leadership of Ameer Hohlfeld, hosted a successful two-day workshop on the 17-18 September 2025 the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) Conference Centre, bringing together post-graduate students and researchers from within the SAMRC and universities across the country, including University of Limpopo, Stellenbosch University, University of the Western Cape, University of Cape Town, University of Johannesburg, and University of Zululand. The training highlighted the importance of evidence-based methods in preparing synthesis which will impact decision-making in improving health outcomes for all South Africans.

CSA’s work focuses on acquiring high-quality, evidence-based information to inform health policy and practice, ultimately improving the quality of life and health status of communities across the nation. The workshop underscored CSA’s ongoing commitment to capacity building by equipping the next generation of researchers with the tools to conduct systematic reviews and contribute to evidence-informed healthcare. During the sessions, participants were introduced to the Cochrane Collaboration and library, while also receiving practical training from CSA staff, covering key concepts such as the  importance of evidence-based healthcare, defining precise research questions, designing effective search strategies, conducting critical appraisals, evaluating studies, and registering protocols on international databases such as PROSPERO. The workshop also included a session on qualitative evidence synthesis (QES), led by Dr Sara Cooper, portfolio lead of the QES Hub at SAMRC, which provided participants with an introduction to QES principles and methods together with hands-on support for formulating an appropriate QES question.

The event provided a vital platform for knowledge sharing and skills development, with several participants noting the direct value of the workshop in contributing to their own research projects. “The positive feedback received reflects the value of the content, as well as the appropriateness and necessity of CSA’s workshops in advancing evidence-based knowledge generation, while supporting and training post-graduate researchers to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s healthcare landscape”, said Prof Mark Engel, CSA Unit Director.