title: Using rapid reviews: an example from a study conducted to inform policy-making.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A discussion of the potential use of rapid review approaches in nursing and midwifery research which presents a worked example from a study conducted to inform policy decision-making.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Rapid reviews, which can be defined as outputs of a knowledge synthesis approach that involves modifying or omitting elements of a systematic review process due to limited time or resources, are becoming increasingly popular in health research. This paper provides guidance on how a rapid review can be undertaken and discusses the strengths and challenges of the approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a rapid review of the literature undertaken in 2015 is used as a worked example to highlight one method of undertaking a rapid review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seeking evidence to inform health policy-making or evidence based practice is a process that can be limited by time constraints, making it difficult to conduct comprehensive systematic reviews. Rapid reviews provide a solution as they are a systematic method of synthesizing evidence quickly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no single best way to conduct a rapid review but researchers can ensure they are adhering to best practice by being systematic, having subject and methodological expertise on the review team, reporting the details of the approach they took, highlighting the limitations of the approach, engaging in good evidence synthesis and communicating regularly with end users, other team members and experts.
authors.affiliation: School of Hospitality Management and Tourism, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland.
authors.forename: Denise F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4790-1482
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3305-0074
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Laserina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Diarmuid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Gerard M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fealy
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egan
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015399:Nursing Research; D011050:Policy Making
keywords: evidence based policy; evidence based practice; evidence synthesis; knowledge translation; literature review; midwife; nurse; policy-making; rapid review