Background: Systematic reviews are not always reported in a format that makes the evidence easily accessible to decision-makers. A range of resources are available to assist users of systematic reviews1 but to our knowledge the field has not been systematically reviewed. We aimed to identify, describe and evaluate existing resources (online and other) aimed at making the results of systematic reviews more accessible to healthcare decision-makers. Methods: Resources (for example, web sites, databases or printed/electronic publications) were eligible for inclusion if they were exclusively or primarily derived from systematic reviews, were aimed at healthcare decision-makers and had stated criteria for inclusion. There had to be some repackaging or ‘translation’ of review content by the service provider. We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL) from 1990 to October 2009 and abstracts of the Cochrane Colloquium and HTA International (2000–2009) for descriptions and evaluations of such resources. We also screened selected web sites and surveyed over 50 international organisations in the field by e-mail. Resources were described in a narrative synthesis. Evaluation studies were assessed for quality using existing methods for surveys, adapted as necessary. Results and Conclusions: Six published studies identified via literature searches were included in the review, five of which included some form of evaluation. Internet searches and the survey are currently ongoing and are expected to be completed by April 2010. Full results and conclusions will be presented at the Colloquium.

Reference: 1. Lavis JN. How can we support the use of systematic reviews in policymaking? PLoS Medicine 2009;6:e1000141.