Goals of the RRR.Un
The aim of the Rapid Review Response Unit (RRR.Un) of the department Population Medicine and Health Services Research (AG 2) (School of Public Health, Bielefeld University) is to systematically generate and process available evidence on health determinants and risks as well as population-based interventions to support evidence-informed decisions in health care. To assemble knowledge on relevant topics, RRR.Un produces reviews of quantitative and/or qualitative studies using systematic methods of evidence-based medicine and Public Health. The RRR.Un cooperates with various partners from science and research, including the Competence Network Public Health COVID-19, the Section Health Equity Studies & Migration of the Heidelberg University Hospital, and the Robert Koch-Institute, as well as institutions of the German public health service at the state and municipal level within the network OEGD-FORTE. International partners include UN organizations and scientific networks (e.g. Lancet Migration Regional Hub Europe).
A review in the field of public health is a systematic approach that summarizes results from primary studies that have already been conducted on a specific topic area in order to compile as much evidence as possible for decision-making or policy advice and to identify possible research gaps. There are several types of reviews, which differ, among other factors, in research methods, the overarching objective, and the processing time required. RRR.Un focuses on rapid reviews, but also produces systematic reviews, scoping reviews, conceptual reviews, or evidence mappings, depending on the urgency, feasibility and relevance criteria.
Our contribution to evidence guidance in health and health care
Through RRR.Un, we support individuals from academia and research, health care institutions, and policy makers by producing systematic reviews on selected topics of socio-political relevance. We accept a limited number of proposals for reviews each year. We evaluate incoming proposals using urgency, feasibility, and population health relevance criteria to allocate available resources to topics with the highest need for evidence and relevance to population health.
Steering and coordination team
Prof. Dr. Kayvan Bozorgmehr (MD, MSc)
Lead of RRR.Un and contact for cooperation
Sven Rohleder (MSc, doctoral candidate)
Coordinator of RRR.Un and contact for systematic searches, protocol development and meta-analyses
Maren Hintermeier (MSc, doctoral candidate)
Contact for Covidence, data extraction and quality appraisal
Jan Oppenberg (MSc)
Support for quality appraisal, data extraction and data preparation
Victoria Saint (MSc, doctoral candidate)
Contact for policy briefs