Table 1 A research agenda for rapid reviews

Taxonomy and definitions

a. How the various types of RRs are defined?

b. What are the standard definitions for rapid reviews?

c. What are the purpose and use of the various types of RRs?

 • Understand how they support informed health care decision-making

 • Evaluate the scope and limitations of rapid reviews in health policy decision-making

Methods, process, and application

a. What are the core elements for RR development (for example, timelines, number of reviewers, number of databases searched)?

b. What are the steps to conduct RRs?

c. How are RR questions developed?

 • Identify and develop products that work for various review questions and contexts

d. What trade-offs of time, resources, and comprehensiveness in various RR products impact results and conclusions?

 • Assess potential biases of RRs and the implications for reporting results

e. What are the appropriate search strategies, including different approaches to text mining, and streamlined approaches?

f. What are the best practices for data synthesis, reporting, and interpretation?

g. What are the best practices for communicating results and knowledge mobilization?

h. Is it appropriate to use RRs for health care decision-making?

 • Determine when and when not to use RR

i. What are the best practices for working with end users?

Compare and contrast rapid reviews with systematic reviews

a. What are the similarities and differences in methods between RRs and SRs and their implications for results?

 • Investigate how to quantify bias in conclusions and recommendations

b. What are the qualitative versus quantitative methods for RRs with SR counterparts?

c. What are the strengths and limitations of RRs versus SRs?

 • Address potential biases, accuracy, and precision of RRs vs SRs

 • Consider perspectives of producers and users

 • Identify shortcuts that can be used in RR products without compromising their quality

Evaluate use (including for quality assurance and impact)

a. How are RRs and SRs used by various organizations?

 • Identify who are the users of RRs and how they use them

 • Measure and quantify their use and impact in health care decision-making

b. What are the risks decision makers are willing to accept in using RRs?

c. What is the impact on policy decisions and practice change?

d. Is it appropriate to use rapid reviews in cost-effectiveness analyses?

Database

a. What are the opportunities and constraints for a RR international database or clearinghouse?

b.How can the identification of RRs be improved to reduce duplicate requests?

Influencing RR practice

a. How can the application of RRs be enhanced among their users?

 • Educate end users regarding what is feasible with RRs

 • Determine what end-user need(s) RRs can meet

 • Work with users in defining the question(s), conducting the reviews, interpreting results

RR tools and guideline development

a. What tools and guidelines can be developed to improve the production and reporting of RRs?

 • AMSTAR-like tool to guide the RR process

 • Process map or decision tree to guide use of RRs and/or SRs

 • Guideline or checklist of what to include in RRs

 • Checklists that assist with selection of RR products suitable for questions

 • Flowchart of questions to support question development

 • Quality assessment of RR products based on content and validity

 • Reporting guidelines for RRs