Knowledge mobilization in a pandemic: mixed methods evaluation of the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools’ COVID-19 evidence support

ABSTRACT Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools created a Rapid Evidence Service (RES) and Rapid Review Repository (RRR) to address public health decision-making challenges. Few evaluations have assessed if and/or how rapid reviews influenced decision-making. Aims: This study sought to (1) explore the reach, quality, use, and impact of the RES and RRR; and (2) identify enabling or hindering factors. Methods: A convergent mixed methods study including a cross-sectional study and a qualitative descriptive evaluation was conducted among decision-makers and evidence synthesis organizations. The findings from each data collection method were merged thematically to draw conclusions. Results: A total of 44 individuals participated. Thirty-eight were public health decision-makers and six represented evidence synthesis organizations. The findings demonstrate that RES reviews reached decision-makers across Canada and globally, were used in decision-making, and influenced decisions. The RRR helped reduce duplication of reviews, promoted collaboration, and supported sharing of emerging evidence. Collectively, quality, credibility, trustworthiness, and usefulness influenced satisfaction, which emerged as a critical driver of reach, use, and impact. Conclusions: The RES and RRR supported evidence-informed decision-making during the pandemic. Previously established relationships and product satisfaction with decision-makers were critical in enabling reach at the outset of the pandemic, while maintaining satisfaction during the pandemic was key to ongoing reach and for reviews to be used to influence decisions. These findings provide direction on actions to prepare for the next public health crisis. Spanish abstract: https://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A669