New editor to increase systematic reviews and transfer knowledge
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* Laura Eggertson

*   © 2007 Canadian Medical Association

The *CMAJ*'s newly minted Section Editor, Reviews, Dr. Sharon Straus will develop tools to move research from the journal's pages into physicians' practices.

Straus, a geriatrician and general internist, holds a Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation. She is also cross-appointed at the University of Calgary and the University of Toronto.

![Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/177/7/706/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/177/7/706/F1)

Section Editor, Reviews, Dr. Sharon Straus will examine how *CMAJ* can present scientific information in more physician-friendly and useful formats. Photo by: Barbara Sibbald

“Sharon is not only an exceptional general internist and geriatrician, she is one of Canada's leading researchers in implementation research,” says *CMAJ* Editor-in-Chief Dr. Paul Hébert. “She is very creative and thoughtful, as well as being a wonderful writer — all skills that will serve her well in her new role.”

Straus will work at *CMAJ* 1 day a week developing a strategy around knowledge translation. She'll also expand and enhance the journal's systematic and clinical narrative reviews.

Despite the myriad information available from randomized clinical trials, new knowledge often stays between the covers of the journal once published. Straus has analyzed the barriers to transferring that knowledge and will work with *CMAJ* editors to eliminate them.

“It really stems from my own interest as a clinician,” she says in explaining her focus. “I want to be the best physician I can be for my patients and the best teacher I can be for my residents, so I want to enhance the quality of care I deliver.”

From her own practice at Calgary's Foothills Hospital, Straus knows physicians are overloaded with information and struggle to implement research results, even if they could improve the quality of lives of their patients. At least 50 randomized trials get published every day, she says. “When you wake up, you're already behind, so there's no way we can keep abreast.”

Most of those studies also present barriers to knowledge transfer because they are not presented in a user-friendly format, Straus adds. Finally, neither clinicians nor patients have access to many of the journals that assess all of the studies and resources to determine which ones are valid and clinically important.

Straus plans to work with authors of clinical practice guidelines published in *CMAJ* to create tools to help physicians implement those guidelines and will later evaluate the success of those tools.

In addition to these practical measures, Straus will examine how *CMAJ* presents systematic reviews, to see if different formats can enhance the way people apply the content. She will also encourage senior clinicians and authors to work with residents and fellows on more reviews.

In her spare time, Straus enjoys travelling and spending time with her extended family and with friends. She intends to continue her practice at Foothills.

“That's where my research questions come from,” she says. “I love interacting with the residents and medical students as well. It's what keeps me stimulated and on my toes.”

Straus' new job follows naturally from her previous position as the director of the knowledge transfer program for the Calgary Health Region. She moved to Calgary from Toronto, where she completed residencies in internal medicine and geriatric medicine. Straus also has a master's degree in clinical epidemiology from the University of Toronto and attended the physician leadership course at the Harvard School of Public Health.