The Healthcare Improvement Scotland evidence noterapid review process: providing timely, reliableevidence to inform imperative decisions on healthcare

摘要

Aim: Rapid review has become widely adopted by health technology assessment agencies in response todemand for evidence-based information to support imperative decisions. Concern about the credibility of rapidreviews and the reliability of their findings has prompted a call for wider publication of their methods. Inpublishing this overview of the accredited rapid review process developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland,we aim to raise awareness of our methods and advance the discourse on best practice. Methods: Healthcare Improvement Scotland produces rapid reviews called evidence notes using a process thathas achieved external accreditation through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Key componentsinclude a structured approach to topic selection, initial scoping, considered stakeholder involvement, streamlinedsystematic review, internal quality assurance, external peer review and updating. Results: The process was introduced in 2010 and continues to be refined over time in response to user feedbackand operational experience. Decision-makers value the responsiveness of the process and perceive it as being acredible source of unbiased evidence-based information supporting advice for NHSScotland. Conclusion: Many agencies undertaking rapid reviews are striving to balance efficiency with methodological rigour.We agree that there is a need for methodological guidance and that it should be informed by better understandingof current approaches and the consequences of different approaches to streamlining systematic review methods.Greater transparency in the reporting of rapid review methods is essential to enable that to happen.