In collaboration with the MUHC Nursing Research department, MUHC Librarians have launched a Rapid Review Service to assist nurses developing or updating protocols selected by the Clinical Practice Review Committee.
Get started
To begin, fill out the rapid review application form.
Once we have received the application, we will assess the project and let you know if it has been accepted. If a project is eligible, we will reach out to set up a meeting to discuss the project in greater detail.
If the project is not accepted, you can fill out a library search request.
What is a rapid review?
A rapid review streamlines the systematic review process, yielding a smaller set of highly relevant results in a timely manner. A systematic review is an extensive project, searching multiple databases as well as grey literature. By contrast, a rapid review:
- includes only a few databases (usually Medline, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library)
- limits search results by date and language
- limits results to systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials (other types of studies may be considered for non-therapy-focused questions)
Steps
MUHC Librarians:
- conduct the literature search in appropriate databases
- screen and select the most relevant results
A Nursing Research Evidence Informed Decision Making (EIDM) advisor:
- critically appraises the included studies
- assesses the state of the evidence on the topic
- delivers a report summarizing the evidence on the topic
For any questions, contact the Chair of the Clinical Practice Review Committee at cprc@muhc.mcgill.ca.
Past rapid reviews
Several rapid reviews have been completed by the Clinical Practice Review Committee since the service was launched in 2015:
Tambe, P., Kelly-Rhéaume, P., & Castiglione, S.A. What is the best available evidence regarding the preference, the accuracy and diagnostic validity associated with the use of rectal thermometry compared with other methods of temperature measurement in adult patients at the time of admission to the emergency department? McGill University Health Centre; August 2026.
Tambe, P., Hales, L., Kelly-Rhéaume, P., & Castiglione, S.A. What is the best available evidence regarding the use of a primary intravenous line with normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride), in addition to the blood transfusion administration set, compared with no dedicated primary intravenous line, for the management of transfusion reactions in adult patients receiving blood transfusions in the intensive care unit? McGill University Health Centre; August 2026.
Castiglione, S.A., Kelly-Rhéaume, P., & Mohsen, K. What is the best available evidence examining the effectiveness of heparin locking solution compared to normal saline on central venous catheter occlusion, duration of patency and bloodstream infections in adult patients? McGill University Health Centre; June 2025.
Castiglione, S. & Mahmoud, I. What is the best available evidence examining the effectiveness of chlorhexidine for the prevention of non-ventilated hospital acquired pneumonia in hospitalized adults? McGill University Health Centre; February 2024.
Boghdady, M-L., Bortolussi-Courval, É., Bergeron, A. & Laizner, A.M. Is there evidence to support the measurement of abdominal girth as an indicator of feeding intolerance or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonates? Is there evidence to support its use in certain subpopulations (e.g. preterm babies)? What is the exact procedure? McGill University Health Centre; December 2020.
Boghdady M-L., Mahmoud I. & Bergeron, A. What evidence exists that describes the benefits and outcomes of a prehabilitation program for adult surgical patients? McGill University Health Centre; July 2020.
Boghdady M.-L. & Bergeron A. What evidence exists that describes the comparative efficacy of using calf-high or thigh-high graduated compression stockings (GCS) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult surgical patients? McGill University Health Centre; November 2019.
Castiglione S.A. & Ekmekjian T. What is the best available evidence for the safe administration of suppositories in adult patients with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia for constipation management? McGill University Health Centre; August 2019.
Castiglione S.A. & Landry T. What evidence exists that describes whether the use of cryotherapy (cold therapy) is effective for improving adult patient outcomes following total knee arthroplasty? McGill University Health Centre; December 2017.
Castiglione S.A. & Ekmekjian T. What evidence exists that describes whether manual double checks should be performed independently or synchronously to decrease the risk of medication administration error? McGill University Health Centre; August 2017.
Castiglione S.A. & Amar-Zifkin A. What evidence exists that describes nursing monitoring for leech therapy in adult inpatients? McGill University Health Centre; September 2016.
Castiglione S.A. & Amar-Zifkin A. What evidence exists that describes methods for ongoing verification of nasogastric tube placement in adult inpatients? McGill University Health Centre; August 2016.
Castiglione SA & Landry T. What is the evidence describing the effectiveness of weaning techniques for tracheostomy decannulation in adult inpatients? Rapid Review Evidence Summary. McGill University Health Centre; February 2016.
Castiglione SA & Landry T. What evidence exists that describes the safe application of heat therapy in a healthcare context? Rapid Review Evidence Summary. McGill University Health Centre; February 2016.
Castiglione SA & Guadagno E. What evidence exists that describes the impact of continuous monitoring on patient safety on non-critical pediatric inpatient units? Rapid Review Evidence Summary. McGill University Health Centre; January 2016.
Castiglione SA & Landry T. What evidence exists that describes whether the Trendelenburg and/or modified Trendelenburg positions are effective for the management of hospitalized patients with hypertension? Rapid Review Evidence Summary. McGill University Health Centre; October 2015.
Castiglione SA & Landry T. What evidence exists that describes the efficacy of mechanical prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult surgical patients? Rapid Review Evidence Summary. McGill University Health Centre; July 2015.
Castiglione SA & Nauche B. What evidence exists that describes what adult patients can drink up to 2 hours before their scheduled surgery and is shown to be safe and prevent complications? Rapid Review Evidence Summary. McGill University Health Centre; December 2014.