Research at the Ministry of Health

Evidence Synthesis

The Evidence Synthesis Unit produces evidence products in response to enquiries for information about health system topics from requesting areas within the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care. The Unit develops syntheses of research evidence as well as jurisdictional scans on health system and public policy questions, according to clients’ needs.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Unit is working on two initiatives that specifically aim to coordinate the synthesis and dissemination of high-quality and timely information on pandemic-related issues to health sector partners.

Please contact EvidenceSynthesis@ontario.ca with any questions about this work.

Evidence Synthesis Network

The Evidence Synthesis Network (ESN) comprises representatives of organizations in Ontario and Canada with expertise in evidence synthesis and knowledge translation. The Network provides their expertise to develop and spread high-quality, relevant, and timely synthesized research evidence about COVID-19 to inform decision makers as the pandemic continues, while reducing duplication of effort across the groups.

When a request for information is submitted, Network members are alerted, and asked to provide documents or support in response. Once responsive documents to a request are received, RAEB develops an Evidence Synthesis Briefing Note; these compile and summarize the information submitted by ESN members, and are shared with the network and on the ESN website, so that the information is made broadly available.

RAEB COVID-19 Evidence Updates

The COVID-19 Evidence Updates were developed in order to share trusted information about COVID-19 to a wide health system audience. The Evidence Updates provide summaries of products developed by both the Evidence Synthesis Unit and the Evidence Synthesis Network, links to trusted sources of information about COVID-19, and curated research and jurisdictional information.

RAEB COVID-19 Evidence Updates:

There have been 26 COVID-19 Evidence Updates produced to date; the remaining Evidence Updates will be posted shortly.

• Evidence Update #18– July 27, 2020
• Evidence Update #17– July 20, 2020
• Evidence Update #16– July 13, 2020
• Evidence Update #15– July 6, 2020
• Evidence Update #14– June 29, 2020
• Evidence Update #13– June 22, 2020
• Evidence Update #12– June 15, 2020
• Evidence Update #11– June 8, 2020
• Evidence Update #10– June 1, 2020
• Evidence Update #9– May 25, 2020
• Evidence Update #8– May 19, 2020
• Evidence Update #7– May 11, 2020
• Evidence Update #6– May 4, 2020
• Evidence Update #5– April 27, 2020
• Evidence Update #4– April 20, 2020
• Evidence Update #3– April 14, 2020
• Evidence Update #2– April 6, 2020
• Evidence Update #1– March 27, 2020