title: Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 12: strengthening global capacity for evidence synthesis of quasi-experimental health systems research.
abstract: Evidence from quasi-experimental studies is often excluded from systematic reviews of health systems research despite the fact that such studies can provide strong causal evidence when well conducted. This article discusses global coordination of efforts to institutionalize the inclusion of causal evidence from quasi-experiments in systematic reviews of health systems research. In particular, we are concerned with identifying opportunities for strengthening capacity at the global and local level for implementing protocols necessary to ensure that reviews that include quasi-experiments are consistently of the highest quality. We first describe the current state of the global infrastructure that facilitates the production of systematic reviews of health systems research. We identify five important types of actors operating within this infrastructure: review authors; synthesis collaborations that facilitate the review process; synthesis interest groups that supplement the work of the larger collaborations; review funders; and end users, including policymakers. Then, we examine opportunities for intervening to build the capacity of each type of actors to support the inclusion of quasi-experiments in reviews. Finally, we suggest practical next steps for proceeding with capacity building efforts. Because of the complexity and relative nascence of the field, we recommend a carefully planned and executed approach to strengthening global capacity for the inclusion of quasi-experimental studies in systematic reviews.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 384, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: prockers@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Rockers
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 43 Bruyère St, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 5C7.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Education, University College London, 20 Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0AL, UK.
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atun
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Harald Schjelderups hus Forskningsveien 3a/2b, 0373 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: John-Arne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Røttingen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, Pilestredet Park 7, 0176 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Atle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fretheim
authors.affiliation: World Bank, 1818 H St NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA.
authors.forename: M Kent
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ranson
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council, Francie Van Zijl Dr, Parow Valley, Cape Town 7501, South Africa.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: National School of Public Health, R. Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480 Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera Lucia
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Luiza
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Africa Health Research Institute, R618 en rouite to Hlabisa, Somkhele, A2074 Rd, Myeki 3935, South Africa.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bärnighausen
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006801:Humans; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: Capacity building; Health systems research; Quasi-experiments; Systematic reviews