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Table 2 Summary of findings table

From: Decision-makers’ experiences with rapid evidence summaries to support real-time evidence informed decision-making in crises: a mixed methods study

Preferences of evidence summary users’

N (%)

Sources most familiar with to access evidence summariesa

Cochrane

8 (66.6)

Evidence Aid

7 (58.3)

Relief Web

7 (58.3)

Campbell Collaboration

4 (33.3)

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie)

4 (33.3)

Victoria’s Hub for Health Services and Business (health.vic.gov.au)

2 (16.6)

Africa Center for Evidence (University of Johannesburg)

0 (0)

Other

0 (0)

Frequency of referring to evidence summaries during the COVID-19 pandemica

Very frequently (more than 7 times)

3 (25)

Frequently (4 to 6 times)

2 (16.6)

Occasionally (2 to 4 times)

7 (58.3)

Rarely (less than 2 times)

0 (0)

Extent information in the evidence summaries influenced final decisions

To a great extent

3 (25)

Somewhat

9 (75)

Very little

0 (0)

Not at all

0 (0)

Challenges with finding and using research evidence in crisesb

Websites require moving through several webpages to reach the desired information

6 (50)

Lack of evidence relating to specific crisis areas

4 (33.3)

Lack of evidence relating to my field of work

2 (16.6)

Some websites’ interface is not user-friendly

1 (8.3)

Other

2 (16.6)

Features would like to see within an evidence summary (if they were to use them)a

Concise summary of the evidence, including benefits, harms and costs, and implementation considerations and recommendations

11 (78.5)

Key messages in bullet point format

9 (64.2)

Information about the research methods of the summarized systematic review

8 (57.1)

Assessment of the quality of the evidence

8 (57.1)

Infographics

0 (0)

Indirectness assessment

3 (21.4)

Date of search strategy (how up to date is the evidence)

7 (50)

A link that directs you to the full text source

13 (92.8)

Full text pdf option

6 (42.8)

Full-text Citations

3 (21.4)

Other

2 (14.2)

Concise summary of the evidence, including benefits, harms and costs, and implementation considerations and recommendations

0 (0)

Preferences of non-evidence summary users’

N (%)

Reasons for not using Evidence Summaries Websites

No specific reason

4 (28.5)

Never heard of them before

3 (21.4)

I do not usually need such tools for my work

1 (7.1)

I find such kind of evidence as “very little informing”

0 (0)

I prefer reading the in-depth evidence for a clearer picture

2 (14.2)

Other

4 (28.5)

Features to help them decide which evidence summary website to choose

Based on credibility of website

9 (64.2)

Based on the number of years of website’s activity

1 (7.1)

Would rely on a colleague’s previous experience

3 (21.4)

Other

1 (7.1)

Extent they anticipate evidence summaries will have influence on their future decision making

To a great extent

4 (28.5)

To a moderate extent

8 (57.1)

To a small extent

2 (14.2)

Not at all

0 (0)

Anticipate using evidence summaries in the future

Yes

9 (64.2)

Maybe

5 (35.7)

No

0 (0)

Features would like to see within an evidence summary (if they were to use them)a

Concise summary of the evidence

11 (78.5)

Information about the research methods of the summarized research paper

9 (64.2)

Assessment of the quality of the evidence

8 (57.1)

Infographics

8 (57.1)

Risk of bias assessment

0 (0)

Indirectness assessment

3 (21.4)

Date of search strategy

7 (50)

A link that directs you to the full text source

13 (92.8)

Full text pdf option

6 (42.8)

Implication’s considerations including contextual factors

3 (21.4)

Equity related considerations

2 (14.2)

Other

0 (0)

  1. aHalf of the participants were engaged in COVID-19 response 6/12)
  2. bCan select more than one answer (total is not 100%)