A QuESt for speed: rapid qualitative evidence syntheses as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic
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METHODOLOGY
Open Access
A QuESt for speed: rapid qualitative evidence syntheses as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic Linda Biesty1,2,3* , Pauline Meskell1,2,4,5, Claire Glenton6, Hannah Delaney3,7, Mike Smalle8, Andrew Booth9, Xin Hui S. Chan10,11, Declan Devane1,3,12,13 and Catherine Houghton1,2,3
Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of urgency in the research community in their bid to contribute to the evidence required for healthcare policy decisions. With such urgency, researchers experience methodological challenges to maintain the rigour and transparency of their work. With this in mind, we offer reflections on our recent experience of undertaking a rapid Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis (QES). Methods: This process paper, using a reflexive approach, describes a rapid QES prepared during, and in response to, the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: This paper reports the methodological decisions we made and the process we undertook. We place our decisions in the context of guidance offered in relation to rapid reviews and previously conducted QESs. We highlight some of the challenges we encountered in finding the balance between the time needed for thoughtfulness and comprehensiveness whilst providing a rapid response to an urgent request for evidence. Conclusion: The need for more guidance on rapid QES remains, but such guidance needs to be based on actual worked examples and case studies. This paper and the reflections offered may provide a useful framework for others to use and further develop. Keywords: Rapid reviews, Qualitative evidence synthesis, Review methods, Systematic review, COVID-19
Background This paper describes a rapid review prepared during, and in response to, the COVID-19 pandemic. The sense of urgency that this pandemic has created in the research community has been highlighted [1], as researchers are eager to contribute to the evidence base for clinical and policy decisions. But urgency brings challenges to conducting research that maintains rigour and transparency [2]. With this in mind, we offer * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland 2 Qualitative Research in Trials Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
reflections on our experience of undertaking a rapid Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis (QES)—‘Barriers and facilitators to healthcare workers’ adherence with infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines for respiratory infectious diseases: a rapid qualitative evidence synthesis (QES)’ [3]. Our aim is not to offer predetermined methodological guidance, but to share with the review community the processes we used and decisions we made, so as to advance the discourse surrounding rapid QES. In March 2020, Cochrane responded to the pandemic by beginning a process of identifying, refining and prioritising research questions to progress as Cochrane rapid reviews (see h
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