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McMaster

The SPARK Tool to Prioritise Questions for Systematic Reviews in Health Policy and Systems Research: Development and Initial Validation

Akl, E. A., Fadlallah, R., Ghandour, L., Kdouh, O., Langlois, E., Lavis, J. N., et al. (2017). The SPARK Tool to prioritise questions for systematic reviews in health policy and systems research: Development and initial validation. Health Research Policy and Systems, 15(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-017-0242-4.
Template available Journal article Evaluated/validated

Description

This resource helps users prioritize questions for systematic review within the area of health policy and systems research (HPSR). The tool is designed to be used in a group setting where there are a number of potential questions in need of prioritization.

Steps for Using Method/Tool

Prior to using the tool, teams are required to complete a separate form for each question undergoing the prioritization process. The tool guides users through 22 items divided into two modules:

  1. For policy-makers and stakeholders – to determine relevance of the questions
  2. For systematic review teams – to be applied to relevant questions; allows a ranking of questions according to feasibility of conduct and appropriateness

Evaluation

Akl, E. A., Fadlallah, R., Ghandour, L., Kdouh, O., Langlois, E., Lavis, J. N., et al. (2017). The SPARK Tool to prioritise questions for systematic reviews in health policy and systems research: development and initial validation. Health Research Policy and Systems, 15(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-017-0242-4

Validity

Akl, E. A., Fadlallah, R., Ghandour, L., Kdouh, O., Langlois, E., Lavis, J. N., et al. (2017). The SPARK Tool to prioritise questions for systematic reviews in health policy and systems research: development and initial validation. Health Research Policy and Systems, 15(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-017-0242-4

These summaries are written by the NCCMT to condense and to provide an overview of the resources listed in the Registry of Methods and Tools and to give suggestions for their use in a public health context. For more information on individual methods and tools included in the review, please consult the authors/developers of the original resources.

We have provided the resources and links as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by McMaster University of any of the products, services or opinions of the external organizations, nor have the external organizations endorsed their resources and links as provided by McMaster University. McMaster University bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites.

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The SPARK Tool to Prioritise Questions for Systematic Reviews in Health Policy and Systems Research: Development and Initial Validation
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