Our approach to evidence

RNID uses a method known as rapid evidence reviews to develop the resources on our Evidence Hub.

We focus on summarising social research on key topics to improve understanding of the experiences and needs of deaf people and people who have hearing loss or tinnitus in the UK.

The evidence we review commonly includes:

• quantitative data such as surveys
• qualitative studies such as in-depth interviews
• grey literature, such as reports from charities or government bodies

Our evidence reviews begin with a commitment to rigor and transparency, balanced with the time and resources available.

Why we use rapid evidence reviews

Systematically reviewing research is a valuable tool for evidence-led decision-making.

Traditional systematic reviews are comprehensive but resource-intensive. Rapid evidence reviews are a methodology developed to provide timely guidance to decisionmakers in contexts where there are constraints on time or resource (Tricco et al. 2022).

Rapid reviews should be used where there is clear practical and conceptual need (Garrity et al. 2024b). In a charity context, practical considerations around resource, staffing and access make this an appropriate choice of methodology.

While a traditional systematic review can take over a year, a rapid review may take weeks or months. This is achieved through trade-offs such as limiting the number of databases searched, narrowing inclusion criteria, and limiting data extraction to key outcomes.

To maintain transparency and rigour, it is important to develop a clear and detailed protocol (Tricco et al. 2022, Devane et al. 2024, Garrity et al. 2024a).

Our review protocols

Review questions, protocols and search strategies are developed through collaboration with RNID staff with expertise in the review topic. They are informed by RNID’s experience working with deaf people and people who have hearing loss or tinnitus.

Searching and screening

All reviews start with a primary database search and a grey literature search. If necessary, supplementary searches will be conducted such as citation chasing.

Records are screened first on title and abstract, then on full text. Screening is conducted by two reviewers for the first 20% of records, with the remaining records screened by a single reviewer.

Reporting

Reviews are published through RNID’s Evidence Hub. Supplementary materials are made available for each review, containing the review protocol, search strategy, and a tabular summary of study characteristics.

RNID follows PRISMA guidelines for reporting the result of reviews. PRISMA flows are used to describe the number of records identified, screened, excluded and included in the review at each phase. These will also be provided for every review via supplementary materials.