Reviews: Rapid! Rapid! Rapid! …and systematic

Systematic reviews Systematic reviews are scientific investigations, with preplanned methods and an assembly of original studies as their “subjects” [1,2]. They synthesize the results of multiple primary investigations by using strategies that limit bias and random error [1,2]. Systematic reviews are transparent about how studies were identified and which were included or excluded, the risk of bias assessment, and the methods to summarize data and assess the certainty in the evidence. Standards for the conduct of systematic reviews have been made available by the Cochrane Collaboration and other organizations. If systematic reviews are done well, e.g., by adhering to conduct (e.g., Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions) and reporting (e.g., PRISMA Statement) best practice standards, it is not sensible to question the value of systematic reviews as a source of information for shaping decision making [3,4]. This methodology of systematic reviews—although laid out three or more decades ago—is continuously and rapidly updated by scientists specializing in research synthesis. Now, Systematic Reviews is publishing a series of articles including methods and examples of accelerating approaches to conducting literature reviews. As a rule of thumb, rapid systematic reviews should be conducted in less than 8 weeks, including protocol publication. On the whole, this is a saving of about 75% in terms of time compared to what most researchers would propose as standard timeline for systematic reviews. Examples will highlight how health policy decisions can be influenced when a rapid review methodology is used.