Background: Engaging policymakers and stakeholders in evidence synthesis activities is an essential step to promote the use of evidence in policy making and practice. This creates a need for a well-developed and structured approach that spans from selecting relevant review questions and synthesizing evidence, to using it in informing policy decisions.
Objectives: To describe an innovative approach to engage policy makers and stakeholders in evidence synthesis activities and knowledge translation.
Methods: The development methodology followed a multifaceted process that encompassed the following steps:
1. comprehensive literature review;
2. development of approach;
3. expert opinions;
4. refinement of approach; and
5. real life experience (implementation).
Results: The proposed approach is shown in Figure 1. It is broadly divided into three phases:
1. preparatory work for selection of potential review questions;
2. priority setting and evidence synthesis; and
3. knowledge translation.
The approach is characterized by its comprehensiveness, the ongoing engagement of policymakers and stakeholders, and the segregation of review questions into those for systematic reviews and those for knowledge translation. In the presentation, we will provide a detailed description of the approach, including the process and outcome of its development. In addition, we will draw on case studies to demonstrate the application of the approach. We will also discuss lessons learned and implications for other groups and systematic review centers planning to engage policymakers and stakeholders in evidence synthesis activities.
Conclusions: The proposed approach will help align the production of evidence syntheses with policy priorities and promote their use in decision-making. It can also help leverage and harness existing systematic reviews on priority questions and devise appropriate knowledge translation products.