A taxonomy of rapid reviews links report types and methods to specific decision-making contexts.
OBJECTIVE
Describe characteristics of rapid reviews and examine the impact of methodological variations on their reliability and validity.


METHODS
We conducted a literature review and interviews with organizations that produce rapid reviews or related products to identify methods, guidance, empiric evidence, and current practices.


RESULTS
We identified 36 rapid products from 20 organizations (production time, 5 minutes to 8 months). Methods differed from systematic reviews at all stages. As time frames increased, methods became more rigorous; however, restrictions on database searching, inclusion criteria, data extracted, and independent dual review remained. We categorized rapid products based on extent of synthesis. "Inventories" list what evidence is available. "Rapid responses" present best available evidence with no formal synthesis. "Rapid reviews" synthesize the quality of and findings from the evidence. "Automated approaches" generate meta-analyses in response to user-defined queries. Rapid products rely on a close relationship with end users and support specific decisions in an identified time frame. Limited empiric evidence exists comparing rapid and systematic reviews.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid products have tremendous methodological variation; categorization based on time frame or type of synthesis reveals patterns. The similarity across rapid products lies in the close relationship with the end user to meet time-sensitive decision-making needs.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Electronic address: hartling@ualberta.ca.
Lisa
L
Hartling
Scientific Resource Center for the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland VA Research Foundation, Portland, OR, USA.
Jeanne-Marie
JM
Guise
Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD, USA.
Elisabeth
E
Kato
Scientific Resource Center for the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland VA Research Foundation, Portland, OR, USA.
Johanna
J
Anderson
Office of Clinical Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
Suzanne
S
Belinson
Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD, USA.
Elise
E
Berliner
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Donna M
DM
Dryden
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Robin
R
Featherstone
ECRI Institute-Penn Medicine AHRQ EPC and the Center for Evidence-Based Practice and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Matthew D
MD
Mitchell
Scientific Resource Center for the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland VA Research Foundation, Portland, OR, USA.
Makalapua
M
Motu'apuaka
Office of Clinical Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
Hussein
H
Noorani
Scientific Resource Center for the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland VA Research Foundation, Portland, OR, USA.
Robin
R
Paynter
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Karen A
KA
Robinson
ECRI Institute-Penn Medicine AHRQ EPC and the Center for Evidence-Based Practice and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Karen
K
Schoelles
ECRI Institute-Penn Medicine AHRQ EPC and the Center for Evidence-Based Practice and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Craig A
CA
Umscheid
Kaiser Permanente Research Affiliates, Portland, OR, USA.
Evelyn
E
Whitlock
D002965:Classification; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
Automation; Interviews; Methodology; Rapid reviews; Stakeholders; Systematic reviews