Rapid reviews: UKHSA Knowledge and Library Services
The Science Evidence Review team supports evidence synthesis needs in UKHSA by producing rapid reviews and providing expertise to teams conducting reviews.
Introduction to rapid reviews
Rapid systematic methodologies adapt traditional systematic review methods to accelerate the review process in a resource-efficient way, while maintaining systematic, transparent and reproducible approaches to ensure integrity.
These can be applied to systematic reviews (‘rapid systematic review’ or ‘rapid reviews’), mapping reviews (‘rapid mapping reviews’) and scoping reviews (‘rapid scoping reviews’).
They involve:
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Initial scoping exercise
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Protocol development
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Literature searching
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Screening
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Data extraction
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Critical appraisal (optional in rapid mapping and scoping reviews)
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Synthesis of relevant evidence
Our rapid reviews, co-produced by reviewers from the Science Evidence Review team and information specialists, follow transparent and robust methods defined in a protocol before the review work starts. You can read more about the different evidence reviews on our systematic reviews page.
Request a rapid review
Rapid reviews, or methodological support to conduct your own evidence review, can be requested through our internal online request form.
This is a service for UKHSA staff only.
There are two evidence review teams within UKHSA:
- the Science Evidence Review team primarily support evidence synthesis needs within UKHSA’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) group.
- the All Hazards Public Health Response (AHPHR) Evidence Review team primarily support UKHSA’s Chief Medical Advisor (CMA) group and incident response.
Requests from other groups are triaged between the 2 teams. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and those accepted will be prioritised based on staff capacity and UKHSA strategic objectives.
Timeframes to produce a rapid review in the Science Evidence Review team vary from 2 to 4 months.
Rapid reviews currently available
The rapid reviews produced by the Science Evidence Review team and the All Hazards Public Health Response (AHPHR) Evidence Review team are available from UKHSA evidence reviews.
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