Evidence Synthesis: Rapid Review

Rapid reviews collect, identify, appraise, and synthesize data at an accelerated pace. Some components of the systematic review process are restricted or omitted, or the scope narrowed, with strong justification and rationale to produce results quickly. 

Rapid reviews are often utilized by decision and policy makers over other types of evidence synthesis for time-sensitive health questions in hospitals and health systems. Rapid reviews may also used to update systematic reviews. Sometimes they are utilized as a learning tool in graduate or medical school. 

Some restricted or omitted processes include:

• Eligibility criteria can narrow the scope of the work through the population, number of comparators, outcomes, study methodology, etc.
• Selecting a smaller number of databases to search; you should have at least 2
• Limiting grey literature and supplemental searching

Required elements of a rapid review:

• A team of more than two people
• Reproducible and transparent collection of evidence 
• Two screening phases
• Documentation of included and excluded studies
• Critical appraisal of all included studies

If you wish to perform a rapid review, please contact the MWU Research & Instruction Librarians. 

• Gressier M, Frost G, Hill Z, et al. The effectiveness of mandatory v. voluntary food reformulation policies: a rapid review. Br J Nutr. 2025;133(6):737-750. doi:10.1017/S0007114524001326
• Raymond L, Motulsky A, Vial G, Ringeval M, Paré G. Navigating large-scale EHR implementations in public health systems: Lessons learned and recommendations from a rapid review. Health Informatics J. 2025;31(2):14604582251347120. doi:10.1177/14604582251347120

1. Tricco AC, Antony J, Zarin W, et al. A scoping review of rapid review methods. BMC Med. 2015;13:224. doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0465-6
2. Tricco AC, Langlois EV, Straus SE. Rapid reviews to strengthen health policy and systems: a practical guide. World Health Organization. https://ahpsr.who.int/publications/i/item/2017-08-10-rapid-reviews-to-strengthen-health-policy-and-systems-a-practical-guide 
3. Booth A, Sommer I, Noyes J, Houghton C, Campbell F, (CQIMG) CRRMG and CQ and IMG. Rapid reviews methods series: guidance on rapid qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Évid-Based Med. 2024;29(3):194-200. doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2023-112620
4. Garritty C, Hamel C, Trivella M, et al. Updated recommendations for the Cochrane rapid review methods guidance for rapid reviews of effectiveness. BMJ. 2024;384:e076335. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076335
5. Yang D, Zhou Y, Tang X, et al. Quality improvement needed for rapid review reports: a literature quality assessment based on Cochrane RR evidence-based methodology. Syst Rev. 2025;14(1):127. Published 2025 Jun 10. doi:10.1186/s13643-025-02870-8