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KMID : 1146320130010010075
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Journal of Health Technology Assessment
2013 Volume.1 No. 1 p.75 ~ p.85
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Rapid Systematic Reviews
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Son Hee-Jung
Kim Soo-Young
Suh Hae-Sun
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Abstract
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Objectives: In the public health research field, a systematic review (SR) is a reliable method to synthesize results of homogeneous individual studies and to produce the best available evidence in order to support decision making. As the request of evidence in a timely manner increases, a rapid systematic review (rapid SR) has been introduced recently and the needs are increasing in Korea as well. We aim to introduce the definition, methodology, and characteristics of rapid systematic reviews.
Methods: Manuals, official documents, introducing materials of rapid SR were searched and reviewed in the websites of forty three institutions of health technology assessment listed in the Health Technology Assessment International webpage.
Results: The findings of key materials reported by health technology assessment institutions showed the definition and methodology of rapid systematic reviews were not consented and were being adapted in various ways. Generally, a rapid systematic review was being conducted in relatively short time duration, one to six months, generating evidence with timeliness but also pursuing the systematic process as well. To meet the timeliness, three strategies were being adopted: restricted literature searches, omission of quality assessments, and narrowly focused research questions. Omission of quality assessments was found definitely produce bias with significance. Narrowly focused research questions had the advantage of keeping the systematic process without any restriction, which has potential to achieve both timeliness and quality at the same time.
Conclusion: Rapid systematic reviews are accepted as a limited systematic report which focuses on providing the evidence timely and mandatorily followed by full systematic reviews. However, in order to enhance the credibility and applicability of the results produced by rapid reviews, finding the balance between the timeliness and quality of the evidence needs to be explored further.
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KEYWORD
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Rapid systematic review (rapid SR), Timeliness, Quality of evidence
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