Table 2 Factors influencing the use of rapid responses during the pandemic

Governance and decision-making processes

Collaboration and coordination between organizations (regional and provincial levels) to provide timely access to evidence and expertise

Strategic positioning of evidence synthesis producers in the decision-making system (e.g., existing connections with decision-makers)

Openness and familiarity of decision makers to rely on scientific evidence to inform decision-making processes

Level of complexity for integrating scientific evidence into decision-making due to other considerations

Framing the demand and need for rapid response

Importance of clearly identifying the needs of decision makers and clarify the request to obtain a RR that will be useful

Frequent interactions between requesters and producers to ensure that the RRs remain aligned with the needs of decision makers

Rapid response production process

Evidence synthesis processes’ rigor, quality, transparency and speed

Consideration and integration of multiple evidence sources

Credibility and trust granted by the decision makers to the team or organization producing the RR

Recommendations contained in the rapid response

Recommendations that are free of political pressure (e.g., adopting an informed and scientific posture)

Recommendations that are not based on the opinions of individual researchers, but on a group of experts who are independent

Feasibility of recommendations based on resources and capacity required to implement them

Recommendations that are specific, operational, and easily identifiable by the decision maker in the document

Rapid response dissemination and knowledge translation

Efficient dissemination channels put in place to ensure that RR reach the right people quickly

Effective visual presentation to make RR products visually appealing and easily understandable

Disseminate evidence as soon as possible, including direct exchanges with decision makers to reduce delays while waiting for the final document