Rapid review guidebook: Steps for conducting a rapid review

2020-03-04 connect learns systematic reviews tool

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the process of conducting rapid reviews to use evidence to inform policy and program decision making. While a specific process is outlined, it is understood that rapid reviews may vary in scope and methodology and the timeline for preparing them may vary from a few days to several weeks or months. Ideally all of the outlined steps would be completed during a rapid review; however, there will be instances where timelines will be such that some steps may need to be skipped, or some steps may not be completed as thoroughly as they would be if more time were available. In instances where timelines are short, it is important to decide, with management, which steps must be completed, which ones may be skipped, and/or which ones may not be completed as thoroughly as possible. Throughout this guide, suggestions are made where time can be saved, as needed, on particular steps. This guide follows the seven step process of evidence-informed decision making promoted by the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools. Rapid reviews are a form of knowledge synthesis that follow the systematic review process, but components of the process are simplified or omitted to produce information in a timely manner