What are the best methodologies for rapid reviews of the research evidence for evidence-informed decision making in health policy and practice: a rapid review

Rapid reviews using abbreviated systematic review methods are of increasing importance for evidence-informed decision-making in education, although there is little guidance about the most suitable approach. Three recently completed rapid review reports are compared to inform discussions on the utility of this type of review in education and to highlight appropriate methods for producing evidence syntheses in a limited time frame. Rapid review methods need to be chosen to fit the needs of the review, which involves: thinking broadly about different kinds of team experience and expertise; estimating the size and nature of the literature to be reviewed; considering the review purpose and nature of the topic; choosing an appropriate synthesis method for the review purpose, evidence base and reviewers’ expertise; fully describing the review approach, and discussing the potential limitations of chosen methods; and understanding the anticipated audiences and tailoring outputs accordingly. Rapid reviews to address urgent and high-priority questions provide the benefits of timeliness and reduced resource requirements. However, it is crucial to understand caveats and limitations to the rapid conduct of evidence syntheses for decision-making purposes. This article offers guidance to support researchers, postgraduate students and commissioners who wish to conduct rapid reviews in a transparent and systematic way, addressing complex questions of relevance to evidence-informed decision-making in education.

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013 Cases for Action: a new approach to addressing gaps between research evidence and health policy and practice in Australia

BMJ Quality & Safety ◽

10.1136/bmjqs-2013-002293.44 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A15.3-A16

Author(s):

M Berry ◽

J McCallum ◽

D Ghersi ◽

A Fitzgerald ◽

J Clydesdale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Policy ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

New Approach ◽

Health Policy And Practice

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Participation in the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools’ Knowledge Broker Mentoring Program: a public health inspector perspective

Environmental Health Review ◽

10.5864/d2021-004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 14-16

Author(s):

Andrea Powers ◽

T. Pelletier ◽

R. Ray ◽

A. Reynolds ◽

C. Howarth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Knowledge Broker ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Practice Research ◽

Mentoring Program ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

Successful Completion ◽

Time Commitment

Although evidence-informed decision making is an important part of the field of public health inspection, finding the time to stay informed of current research can be a challenge amidst day-to-day job expectations. This article will explore how two Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) from Ottawa Public Health, a municipal public health unit in Ontario, incorporated evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) into their work. They built their EIDM skills through participating in the 18-month Knowledge Broker (KB) Mentoring Program offered by the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools. The program required a substantial time commitment, including nine in-person workshop days and dedicated hours to practice research appraisal skills and to complete a rapid review. The inspectors were approved and supported to spend the necessary time; however, they still found it difficult to designate hours for learning while balancing their frontline inspection workload. This article will share observations about the PHI’s involvement, including benefits and challenges as well as factors that facilitated their successful completion of the KB Mentoring Program.

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Essential skills for using research evidence in public health policy: a systematic review

Evidence & Policy A Journal of Research Debate and Practice ◽

10.1332/174426421x16250726996691 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Saliha Ziam ◽

Pierre Gignac ◽

Élodie Courant ◽

Esther Mc Sween-Cadieux

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Decision Making ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

Evidence Use ◽

Public Health Decision ◽

Health Decision

Background: Decisions related to the development and implementation of public health programmes or policies can benefit from more effective use of the best available knowledge. However, decision makers do not always feel sufficiently equipped or may lack the capacity to use evidence. This can lead them to overlook or set aside research results that could be relevant to their practice area.Aims and objectives: The objective of this systematic review was to synthesise the essential skills that facilitate the use of research evidence by public health decision makers.Methods: Thirty-nine articles that met our inclusion criteria were included. An inductive approach was used to extract data on evidence-informed decision-making-related skills and data were synthesised as a narrative review.Findings: The analysis revealed three categories of skills that are essential for evidence-informed decision-making process: interpersonal, cognitive, and leadership and influencing skills. Such cross-sectoral skills are essential for identifying, obtaining, synthesising, and integrating sound research results into the decision-making process.Discussion and conclusions: The results of this systematic review will help direct capacity-building efforts towards enhancing research evidence use by public health decision makers, such as developing different types of training that would be relevant to their needs. Also, when considering the evidence-informed decision-making skills development, there are several useful and complementary approaches to link research most effectively to action. On one hand, it is important not only to support decision makers at the individual level through skills development, but also to provide them with a day-to-day environment that is conducive to evidence use. Key messages <ul><li>Public health programmes or policies can benefit from more effective use of the best available knowledge;</li> <li>This review identified 39 studies on skills related to evidence-informed decision making;</li> <li>Three categories of skills are proposed: cognitive, interpersonal and leadership and influencing skills;</li> <li>It will help direct capacity-building efforts towards enhancing evidence use by decision makers.</li></ul>

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The Knowledge Broker Mentoring Program: Developing capacity for evidence-informed decision making

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.170 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

C Howarth ◽

M Steinberg ◽

S Neil-Sztramko ◽

M Dobbins

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Program Planning ◽

Scale Up ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Knowledge Broker ◽

Organizational Level ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Mentoring Program ◽

Informed Decision Making

Abstract Background Evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) is important to ensure that practice is evidence-informed and resources are used efficiently and effectively. However, public health professionals can face barriers to EIDM. Knowledge Brokers can support and champion EIDM within an organization. The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) developed a Knowledge Broker (KB) Mentoring program, a hands-on mentorship program to develop capacity for evidence-informed decision making. Objectives The objectives of the KB Mentoring program are to build individual and organizational capacity for evidence-informed decision making. The program takes place over 20 months and includes an organizational assessment, nine face-to-face workshop days, monthly webinars, completion of a rapid review, and a period post-program to connect with mentors. Participating cohorts are evaluated qualitatively. Results To date, two cohorts of five organizations each have completed the program (n = 56 participants). At the individual level, participants reported increased: confidence; EIDM knowledge and skills; and interpersonal connections. At the organizational level, the groups reported conducting rapid reviews, critically appraising evidence, and using evidence in program planning decisions. Additionally, organizations have put in place ongoing supports to build EIDM capacity. Participants noted that they would like more support both before and after the program. This recommendation was put in place for the third cohort, currently in progress. Conclusions Participants indicated the KB mentoring program was high quality and increased EIDM capacity and behaviour in their organizations. This innovative program is important across settings and countries as public health continues to face changes to public health practice. In order to scale up the program to diverse geographic settings, an online KB mentoring program is currently in development. Key messages Knowledge Broker mentoring supports public health practitioners to use evidence in practice. Knowledge broker mentoring raises the confidence, knowledge, skills, and connections of participants.

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How the “Understanding Research Evidence” Web-Based Video Series From the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools Contributes to Public Health Capacity to Practice Evidence-Informed Decision Making: Mixed-Methods Evaluation

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/jmir.6958 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. e286 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Linda Chan ◽

Jeannie Mackintosh ◽

Maureen Dobbins

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

Web Based ◽

Mixed Methods Evaluation

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The Swiss Learning Health System: a national initiative supporting evidence-informed decision-making

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.177 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

S Mantwill ◽

T Kasper Wicki ◽

S Boes

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Health System ◽

Research Policy ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Supporting Evidence ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Learning Health System ◽

Learning Cycles ◽

Swiss Health

Abstract Issue Over the last years, there has been an ever-increasing interest in how to promote and support uptake of evidence and evidence-informed decision-making in health-systems related policy and practice. However, only few efforts have been made that aim at fully leveraging the knowledge and expertise of bigger networks to address this issue more comprehensively. Description of the problem Also, in Switzerland, the need to address this matter has been increasingly emphasized by actors in the health system. In particular, the lack of comprehensive coordination efforts in the field of health services research, and subsequent knowledge translation activities, has been stressed. Results In response, the Swiss Learning Health System (SLHS) was established as a nationwide project in 2017, currently involving 10 academic partners. One of the overarching objectives of the SLHS is to bridge research, policy, and practice by providing an infrastructure that supports learning cycles. Learning cycles enable the continuous integration of evidence into policy and practice by: continuously identifying issues relevant to the health system, systemizing relevant evidence, presenting potential courses of action, and revising and reshaping responses. Key features of learning cycles in the SLHS include the development of policy/evidence briefs that serve as a basis for official stakeholder dialogues, which are structured dialogues during which the best course of action is discussed and evaluated. Issues that are identified to be further pursued are monitored for potential implementation and eventually evaluated to inform new learning cycles and to support continuous learning within the system. Lessons The SLHS is an important mechanism to institutionalize learning cycles within the Swiss health system by leveraging the expertise and knowledge of a comprehensive network, going beyond individual initiatives, and to respond effectively to newly occurring health system challenges. Key messages The Swiss Learning Health System is the first nationwide project that aims to establish learning cycles that support evidence-informed decision-making in health-system-related policy and practice. The Swiss Learning Health System is an infrastructure that supports the continuous flow of evidence into policy and practice, providing a mechanism to respond to occurring health system challenges.

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The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools: Supporting evidence-informed decision making

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

C Howarth ◽

S Neil-Sztramko ◽

M Dobbins

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Well Being ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

High Quality ◽

Public Health Professionals ◽

The World

Abstract Background Public health continuously evolves to address an uncertain future, and public health professionals must effectively and efficiently adapt to changes. Evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) is one way to adapt to change. The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) provides high quality resources, training and mentorship to support the EIDM process through both in-person and distance-based formats. Freely accessible resources including online training opportunities can help public health professionals globally put evidence into practice and be ready to respond to change. Objectives The NCCMT's work is driven by the belief that everyone deserves optimal health and well-being and this can be achieved by using the best available evidence in practice. Our training and education resources include thirteen online learning modules, an EIDM skills assessment, video series, a rapid review guidebook and regular webinars, amongst others. These resources are self-paced and they can be accessed when and where it is most convenient for public health professionals. Results The NCCMT's resources are highly accessed, with over 320, 000 visits to the NCCMT website from around the world from April 2018-March 2019. There were also over 42,000 downloads of knowledge products in the same time period. The NCCMT's resources have been integrated into public health organizations and curriculum in public health postsecondary programs in Canada. We are continuously evolving by engaging our users. We will be launching an updated version of our Learning Centre in April 2020. Conclusions The NCCMT houses useful resources for all public health professionals to learn about finding, understanding, and using evidence. Public health professionals from around the world have used the NCCMT's educational resources to put evidence into practice. The NCCMT is committed to working with global organizations to support them to achieve their EIDM goals. Key messages The NCCMT supports public health professionals to use the best available evidence in practice. The NCCMT offers high quality resources, training and mentorship to public health professionals.

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