Experience learnt from a rapid review process to select outcome indicators for monitoring pressure injury

Introduction: Rapid review is a method to yield evidence for healthcare decision making processes in a timely and systematic manner. We used this method to identify internationally comparable outcome indicators used for monitoring pressure injury. Pressure Injury, a major concern in Nursing Division, Ministry of Health, is being currently monitored nationally in all public hospitals. Nevertheless, we encountered a number of problems and challenges during the process of review. This paper aims to share lessons learnt in adapting rapid review methods for outcome indicator identification. Methods: The final review methodology resulted from experiential learning in conducting the review. We underwent four phases which are database search from reviews, snowballing search for articles and guidelines then followed by country level document reviews. Many of the review papers described interventions with minimal details, such as definition, criteria or formula. Snowball search yielded incomplete information as well for implementation purposes. An iterative process of continual refinement to ensure objective of review could be achieved was employed. This resulted in the choice and adoption of the most appropriate strategies based on problems and challenges encountered in the previous phase. Therefore, additional search was performed focusing on country indicators identified in database search. Document review on country level search produced the required information. Conclusion: A review of reviews could not yield sufficient information for the objective of this study. For our scenario, the document review of guidelines from specific countries was more appropriate as it provided necessary information related to outcome indicators search and contextualization.