A QuESt for speed: rapid qualitative evidence syntheses as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Systematic Reviews

Xin Hui S. Chan¹  Pauline Meskell²  Linda Biesty³  Catherine Houghton³  Declan Devane⁴  Mike Smalle⁵  Claire Glenton⁶  Andrew Booth⁷  Hannah Delaney⁸ 

[1] Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK;Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK;Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;Qualitative Research in Trials Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland;Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland;Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;Qualitative Research in Trials Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, H91 E3YV, Galway, Ireland;Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, H91 E3YV, Galway, Ireland;Cochrane Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway;School of Health and Related Research, ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK;School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, H91 E3YV, Galway, Ireland;School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;

关键词: Rapid reviews;    Qualitative evidence synthesis;    Review methods;    Systematic review;    COVID-19;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13643-020-01512-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of urgency in the research community in their bid to contribute to the evidence required for healthcare policy decisions. With such urgency, researchers experience methodological challenges to maintain the rigour and transparency of their work. With this in mind, we offer reflections on our recent experience of undertaking a rapid Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis (QES).MethodsThis process paper, using a reflexive approach, describes a rapid QES prepared during, and in response to, the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThis paper reports the methodological decisions we made and the process we undertook. We place our decisions in the context of guidance offered in relation to rapid reviews and previously conducted QESs. We highlight some of the challenges we encountered in finding the balance between the time needed for thoughtfulness and comprehensiveness whilst providing a rapid response to an urgent request for evidence.ConclusionThe need for more guidance on rapid QES remains, but such guidance needs to be based on actual worked examples and case studies. This paper and the reflections offered may provide a useful framework for others to use and further develop.

【 授权许可】

CC BY