Paper 4: a review of reporting and disseminating approaches for rapid reviews in health policy and systems research

Shannon E Kelly; Jessie McGowan; Kim Barnhardt; Sharon E Straus

doi:10.1186/s13643-022-01897-5

Paper 4: a review of reporting and disseminating approaches for rapid reviews in health policy and systems research

Syst Rev. 2022 Jul 30;11(1):152. doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-01897-5.

Authors

Shannon E Kelly^{1

2}, Jessie McGowan³, Kim Barnhardt⁴, Sharon E Straus⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Suite 101, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, ON, K1G 5Z3, Ottawa, Canada. sekelly@ottawaheart.ca.
² Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada. sekelly@ottawaheart.ca.
³ School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Suite 101, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, ON, K1G 5Z3, Ottawa, Canada.
⁴ Communications, CMAJ, 1410 Blair Towers, Suite 500, ON, K1J 9B9, Ottawa, Canada.
⁵ Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's - Unity Health Toronto, 38 Shuter St, ON, M5B 1A6, Toronto, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Transparent reporting of rapid reviews enables appropriate use of research findings and dissemination strategies can strengthen uptake and impact for the targeted knowledge users, including policy-makers and health system managers. The aim of this literature review was to understand reporting and dissemination approaches for rapid reviews and provide an overview in the context of health policy and systems research.

Methods: A literature review and descriptive summary of the reporting and disseminating approaches for rapid reviews was conducted, focusing on available guidance and methods, considerations for engagement with knowledge users, and optimizing dissemination. MEDLINE, PubMed, Google scholar, as well as relevant websites and reference lists were searched from January 2017 to March 2021 to identify the relevant literature with no language restrictions. Content was abstracted and charted.

Results: The literature review found limited guidance specific to rapid reviews. Building on the barriers and facilitators to systematic review use, we provide practical recommendations on different approaches and methods for reporting and disseminating expedited knowledge synthesis considering the needs of health policy and systems knowledge users. Reporting should balance comprehensive accounting of the research process and findings with what is "good enough" or sufficient to meet the requirements of the knowledge users, while considering the time and resources available to conduct a review. Typical approaches may be used when planning the dissemination of rapid review findings; such as peer-reviewed publications or symposia and clear and ongoing engagement with knowledge users in crafting the messages is essential so they are appropriately tailored to the target audience. Consideration should be given to providing different products for different audiences. Dissemination measures and bibliometrics are also useful to gauge impact and reach.

Conclusions: Limited guidance specific to the reporting and dissemination of rapid reviews is available. Although approaches to expedited synthesis for health policy and systems research vary, considerations for the reporting and dissemination of findings are pertinent to all.

Keywords: Dissemination; Evidence synthesis; Health policy; Health services; Methods; Rapid review; Reporting; Time factors.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Administrative Personnel*
Health Policy*
Humans
Research Report