Since the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine's national healthcare system has faced enormous challenges in maintaining operational and efficient services for a population suffering severe physical and mental health repercussions due to the conflict.

In response to this critical situation, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (www.aics.gov.it) has funded a project to strengthen the capacity of hospitals in Lviv, Kyiv, and Dnipro. The main goal is to improve the management and treatment of complex emergencies, particularly for victims of explosive devices. To achieve this, the development of clinical guidelines and recommendations is essential to ensure the continued provision of high-quality healthcare, addressing both the current and future challenges posed by the conflict to Ukrainian healthcare professionals.

The course “Methods for the Development of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Recommendations” was designed by experts from the Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (UOSI) of the IRCCS Institute of Neurosciences in Bologna, in collaboration with Cochrane Italy. It aims to provide both methodological and practical knowledge to support this project. The course, divided into eight virtual modules, is intended for Ukranian clinical practitioners, rehabilitation specialists, members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and academic researchers.

The modules are designed to equip Ukrainian healthcare professionals with:

• Scientific knowledge on developing evidence-based clinical practice recommendations.
• Practical skills to create and implement specialized health protocols and guidelines.
• Expertise in adapting actionable recommendations to their local context.

The course is taught by Elisa Baldin, Luca Vignatelli, and Francesco Nonino, neurologists and epidemiologists from the Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (UOSI). Francesco Nonino, who also serves as the Director of Cochrane Italy, is the Scientific Coordinator of the course.

The full program can be found here: Locandina e Programma ENG-ITA

Among the promoters and collaborators of the course, special thanks are extended to:

Nataliia Onipko – Presidente, Fondazione "ZAPORUKA", Kyïv, Ucraina

Nataliia Tatarenko – Project Manager, Fondazione "ZAPORUKA", Kyïv, Ucraina

Dario Mariani – Health Specialist Ukraine Emergency, Fondazione Soleterre ETS, Opera (MI), Italia

Mariarosaria Borraccia – Health Program Manager Ukraine, Fondazione Soleterre ETS, Opera (MI), Italia

Claudia De Santis – Communication Manager, Cochrane Italia, Bologna (BO), Italia

Photo of the meeting held on October 30, 2024, between the UOSI team of experts, Dario Mariani from Soleterre, and Nataliia Tatarenko from Zaporuka: