Rapid review: Home

Rapid Reviews are best designed for:

New or emerging research topics, updates of previous reviews, critical topics, to assess what is already known about a policy or practice using some systematic review methods. 

• Search is not as comprehensive
• In come cases, there may only be one reviewer
• Possible non-blinded appraisal and selection
• Limited/cautious interpretation of the findings
• No universally accepted definition of a "rapid review"
• Be mindful of limitations and potential biases when cutting corners
• Can impact policy and practice but systematic reviews are still needed
• You still need a content expert and those experienced with systematic reviews

(Source: Cochrane: Rapid Reviews-An Introduction (2014))

Rapid Evidence Review

Rapid Evidence Assessment

Rapid Systematic Review

Expedited Review

Rapid Evidence Summary

Dobbins, M. (2017). Rapid review guidebook. Natl. Collab. Cent. Method Tools, 13, 25.Full text

Garritty, C., Gartlehner, G., Nussbaumer-Streit, B., King, V. J., Hamel, C., Kamel, C., ... & Stevens, A. (2020). Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group offers evidence-informed guidance to conduct rapid reviews. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. Full text

Khangura, S., Konnyu, K., Cushman, R., Grimshaw, J., & Moher, D. (2012). Evidence summaries: the evolution of a rapid review approach. Systematic reviews, 1(1), 1-9. Full text

Tricco, A. C., Langlois, E., Straus, S. E., & World Health Organization. (2017). Rapid reviews to strengthen health policy and systems: a practical guide. World Health Organization. Full text

Tricco, A. C., Straus, S. E., Ghaffar, A., & Langlois, E. V. (2022). Rapid reviews for health policy and systems decision-making: more important than ever before. Systematic Reviews, 11(1), 1-4. Full text