HSDR Evidence Synthesis Centre: University of Exeter

AIM: The aim of the Exeter HS&DR Evidence Synthesis Centre is to produce rapid reviews and evidence syntheses which will be of immediate use to health and social care decision makers in order to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of services, including the delivery of those services. EXPERTISE: We bring advanced skills in information science, quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods synthesis, combined with skills and experience in making use of a wide variety of evidence types, effective end-user engagement and a commitment to delivering useable and relevant evidence products to the people who can use them to make a difference. We have expertise in producing a range of evidence products from systematic reviews of effectiveness and cost effectiveness, implementation and patient experience, to overviews of reviews, evidence maps, scoping reviews, realist reviews, rapid reviews and a variety of creative dissemination outputs. TRACK RECORD: Our proven track record of effective collaboration and impactful publications is built not only on the success of the past three years of the Exeter HS&DR Evidence Synthesis Centre but also on a diversity of experience gained delivering systematic reviews with a strong focus on policy and practice to a range of research funders and policy customers. Collectively we have conducted systematic reviews for many of the NIHR research programmes, National Institute for Health & Care Excellence, Centre for Public Health Excellence at NICE, Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Defence, the Education Endowment Foundation, Welsh Government and voluntary sector organisations. Members of the team have successfully worked together for over 10 years and have published, together and individually, over 50 systematic reviews. EVIDENCE OF ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF EXPERTS AND LINKS TO COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE: We have established networks of clinical, service delivery, commissioning and organisational contacts. To supplement this, we plan to convene an Evidence Synthesis Centre Advisory Group (ESC-AG). The ESC-AG will provide additional service organisation and delivery-relevant guidance and facilitate the efficient application of external expert knowledge and perspective at short notice. FAMILIARITY WITH SERVICE ISSUES: A combination of established relationships with individuals working in health and social care settings and the experience gained working closely with them ensures familiarity with service issues. A TRACK RECORD IN CO-CREATION: Close-working with target audiences, including the policy customer, is essential to interpreting emerging results, identifying novel and actionable insights and producing reports that give easy access to key findings. We have considerable experience of working with end-users throughout the review process and routinely produce briefing papers, podcasts, cartoons and blog posts in addition to peer reviewed journal articles in key journals and seminar and conference presentations, as guided by our target audience. RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING DEMANDS: Production of useful evidence products relies on the ability of the review team to respond to changing demands either within the health and social care landscape or from the policy customer. We recognise the importance of flexibility and responsiveness and have successfully met the demands of a changing work programme over the past three years.