PHCoE produces rapid reviews to provide key MHS stakeholders with timely information regarding the state of the science for specified topics that may inform psychological health care decisions.
What is a rapid review?
Systematic reviews are considered one of the highest levels of evidence synthesis for informing evidence-based health care practices and policies. They provide decision-makers with comprehensive, rigorously evaluated summaries of scientific evidence that address important clinical questions. However, the systematic review methodology is resource intensive and can take up to several years to complete.
The “rapid review” has emerged in response to the need for evidence summaries that can be produced in a shorter period of time. Although there is no standard methodology, rapid reviews involve modifying aspects of the systematic review methodology to reduce time and resource requirements.
How does PHCoE conduct rapid reviews?
PHCoE receives topics of interest for evidence synthesis from leaders and decision-makers in the MHS. A team of PHCoE staff works with the requesting stakeholder to refine key questions and devise a protocol for conducting the review. The table below illustrates several aspects of the systematic review methodology that may be strategically modified in the rapid review protocol. The PHCoE team then executes the agreed upon methodology to produce the report. Rapid review reports can vary widely depending on the stakeholder’s goal for the review, scope of the topic, and the allowable time frame.
Expediting the Systematic Review Process
12 months – several years | 1 – 6 months | |
Comprehensive key questions addressing effectiveness, safety, cost, etc. | Limited number and complexity of key questions | |
Sensitive, systematic search for published and grey literature |
Abbreviated search using a limited number of databases and resources May apply restrictions such as publication date, study types, language, etc. |
|
Inclusive, pre-defined criteria for inclusion Dual review and selection of studies Rigorous full-text review and comprehensive data elements for extraction |
Narrow criteria for inclusion, which may be iteratively redefined based on search results Single reviewer screening and selection of studies Limited data elements for extraction |
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Qualitative and quantitative synthesis of findings May include meta-analysis Comprehensive critical appraisal of individual studies and quality of evidence assessment |
Descriptive summary of findings Characteristics of included studies May include critical appraisal of individual study designs |
Recent Reports:
- Rapid Review of Alcohol-Related Sexual Assault/Harassment in the Military
February 2020
Review and summary of evidence for the co-occurrence of alcohol misuse and sexual assault - Rapid Review on the Effect of Bereavement Leave on Recovery Outcomes
February 2020
Review and summary evidence on bereavement leave and improved coping/healing and recovery outcomes - Rapid Review on Differences in Suicide Risk Factors between National Guard and Active Duty Service Members
November 2019
Review and summary of evidence on risk factors related to the differential rates of suicide between the National Guard and active duty components - Intensive Outpatient Programs for Treating Psychological Sequelae of Sexual Assault: A Brief Summary of the Evidence
January 2019
Review and summary of evidence for intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) for the treatment of sexual assault sequelae - inTransition “Hot Handoff” Evidence Review and Analysis
November 2018
Review and summary evidence to provide evidence-based suicide risk factors to inform the inTransition "hot handoff" versus "warm handoff" process proposal - Executive Coaching:
A Brief Summary of the Evidence
June 2018
Review and summary of evidence on findings from an examination of systematic reviews of executive coaching -
Peer Support Interventions: A Brief Summary of the Evidence
May 2018
Review and summary of peer-support interventions and recent reviews of systematic reviews on peer support for mental health conditions -
Outpatient Behavioral Health Provider Panel Size and Burnout in the Military Health System (MHS)
July 2017
Review and summary of evidence on outpatient behavioral health provider panel size as related to provider burnout, care quality, or other outcomes