QMIG Methods workshop:
Background: As we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes questions need to be answered quickly in order to be useful for policy and practice. This applies equally to questions answerable by qualitative evidence synthesis. However, providing evidence quickly may carry implications for how systematic and rigorous the synthesis is and/or confidence in the review findings.
Objectives: We aim to help attendees at this workshop to: Consider why and when a rapid approach to qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) could be useful; Replicate important decisions to minimise the impact of speed on review quality; and Consider the differences between a rapid review, QES and a rapid QES.
Description: The presenters, co-convenors of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group, will draw on working examples of a rapid QES published in Cochrane to illustrate key decisions that are needed when conducting rapid QES. We will use problem-solving activities with feedback to help attendees prepare for conducting a rapid QES. This workshop is intended for those with some experience in systematic review or QES who are interested in learning more about developing a flexible toolkit of ways to conduct evidence synthesis that optimise timeliness and rigour.