Table 3 Methodological characteristics reported in rapid evidence synthesis analyzed (n = 128)
Steps | Methodological approaches | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
Literature search | Electronic databases searched | 127 (99.2) |
Grey literature searched | 126 (98.4) | |
Information specialist involved | 70 (54.6) | |
Limit of publication language | 80 (62.5) | |
Limit of publication date | 42 (32.8) | |
Citation screening | Details on number of reviewers involved in screening: - Screening done by one reviewer - Screening done by more than one reviewer (sharing, validation, or independent screening) | 49 (38.3) 23 (18) 26 (20.3) |
Details on eligibility criteria | 56 (43.8) | |
Details on search and document selection results - Presence of a flow diagram | 31 (24.2) 4 (3.1) | |
Data extraction | Details on number of reviewers involved in extraction: - Extraction done by one reviewer - Extraction done by more than one reviewer (sharing, validation, or independent extraction) | 55 (43) 18 (14.1) 37 (28.9) |
Quality assessment | Quality assessment conducted - Critical appraisal tool specified | 20 (15.6) 12 (9.4) |
Details on number of reviewers involved in assessment: - Assessment done by one reviewer - Assessment done by two reviewers | 8 (6.3) 1 (0.8) 7 (5.5) | |
Synthesis | Narrative synthesis | 128 (100) |
Meta-analysis | 1 (0.8) | |
Additional statistical analysis | 2 (1.6) | |
Assessment of evidence certainty | 27 (21.1) | |
Revision and consultation | Internal revision (i.e., revision by reviewers from the organisation that produced the document) | 85 (66.4) |
External revision (i.e., revision by reviewers outside of the organisation that produced the document) | 35 (27.3) | |
Consultations with experts, health professionals, managers, and representatives of professional orders | 38 (29.7) |