Methodological guidance for incorporating equity when informing rapid-policy and guideline development

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Equity Research
• Systematic Review Methodology

Background:

• Rapid reviews are crucial for public health emergencies.
• Ensuring equity in rapid reviews is essential for understanding disease impact.
• Existing guidelines lack specific focus on equity in rapid review processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical guidance for integrating equity considerations into rapid reviews.
• To enhance the quality and applicability of rapid reviews during public health crises.
• To support policymakers in understanding the distributional effects of diseases.

Main Methods:

• Development of guidance based on methodological meetings and established guidelines (Cochrane Handbook, PRISMA-Equity).
• Identification of exemplar COVID-19 rapid reviews through database searches and expert consultation.
• Proposal of eight key steps for conducting equity-focused rapid reviews.

Main Results:

• Key steps include stakeholder involvement, team reflection on equity, equity-focused research questions, targeted searches, critical data appraisal for vulnerable populations, equity evidence analysis, applicability assessment, and transparent reporting.
• Exemplar rapid reviews were used to illustrate the application of these methods.
• The proposed guidance addresses critical aspects of equity throughout the review process.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of this guidance can significantly improve equity considerations in rapid reviews.
• This approach aids policymakers in grasping the differential impact of diseases across populations.
• Enhanced equity focus in rapid reviews contributes to more equitable public health emergency responses.