Article type
Abstract
Background: Evidence synthesis is time and resource costly; and predicting how long a review will take, and which parts of the process will require the greatest input of time is necessary for planning, costing, and communicating with funders, research teams, and stakeholders. Where rapid review approaches may be adopted, the impact of these in terms of time saved and consequent limitations on the trustworthiness of the findings must also be clearly communicated. The existing PredicTER is a unique tool freely available online and designed to estimate the time requirements of a systematic review or systematic map in environmental sciences.
Objectives: To develop PredicTER, creating PredicTER2, increasing its utility by enabling it to estimate the time needed to undertake reviews in health and social sciences, and in a wider range of evidence synthesis methods. We also aim to improve the usability of its interface.
Methods: During the Systematic Review Hackathon 2023, initial work was undertaken to identify the limitations of the existing tool. A survey was developed to gather data to supplement the existing data on the time needed in reviews to support environmental science. The survey was initially piloted on attendees and then circulated to organizations undertaking evidence synthesis in health and social care. The survey was also designed to gather data on the time needed to undertake qualitative evidence synthesis.
Results: The existing tool is being redesigned to incorporate new elements, including the facility to create a Gantt chart and to visually display the impact of rapid review approaches in terms of time saved and increased risk to the trustworthiness of the findings. It will also be relevant for reviews across a wider range of topic areas and evidence synthesis methods.
Conclusions: We will be launching the new PredicTER2 tool at GES 2024 and will demonstrate the new features of the tool. PredicTER2 will be a valuable asset to reviewers as they plan, cost, and communicate with funders and stakeholders the time needed to undertake evidence synthesis.
Objectives: To develop PredicTER, creating PredicTER2, increasing its utility by enabling it to estimate the time needed to undertake reviews in health and social sciences, and in a wider range of evidence synthesis methods. We also aim to improve the usability of its interface.
Methods: During the Systematic Review Hackathon 2023, initial work was undertaken to identify the limitations of the existing tool. A survey was developed to gather data to supplement the existing data on the time needed in reviews to support environmental science. The survey was initially piloted on attendees and then circulated to organizations undertaking evidence synthesis in health and social care. The survey was also designed to gather data on the time needed to undertake qualitative evidence synthesis.
Results: The existing tool is being redesigned to incorporate new elements, including the facility to create a Gantt chart and to visually display the impact of rapid review approaches in terms of time saved and increased risk to the trustworthiness of the findings. It will also be relevant for reviews across a wider range of topic areas and evidence synthesis methods.
Conclusions: We will be launching the new PredicTER2 tool at GES 2024 and will demonstrate the new features of the tool. PredicTER2 will be a valuable asset to reviewers as they plan, cost, and communicate with funders and stakeholders the time needed to undertake evidence synthesis.