From Evidence to Policy: Rapid Evidence Syntheses as a Governance Instrument for Evidence-Informed National Clinical Guidelines in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections
1
Department of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1507
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The development of clinical guidelines takes place in a context of increasing complexity of scientific production and growing demand for timely decision-making within health systems¹. Evidence-Informed Policies (EIPs) aim to bridge evidence and decision-making processes², and rapid systematic reviews have emerged as strategic instruments to support decisions and the development of clinical guidelines based on the best available evidence³.
METHODS:
This is an experience report from the General Coordination of Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections (CGIST/DATHI/SVSA/Ministry of Health of Brazil) on the institutionalization of EIPs within the process of developing and updating Clinical Protocols and Therapeutic Guidelines (PCDTs) in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), in accordance with the national guideline development framework⁴. A structured workflow for the production of rapid systematic reviews was implemented to respond to decision-making demands in a timely manner. The workflow includes scope definition and formulation of research questions, systematic searching, study selection and data extraction, methodological quality appraisal using validated tools, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation into concise products to support deliberations by Technical Advisory Committees. Methodological decisions are explicitly documented, ensuring transparency and reproducibility.
RESULTS:
Rapid systematic reviews became the main technical input for discussions and deliberations of Technical Advisory Committees in the processes of developing and revising PCDTs. Reviews were produced internally by CGIST and by partner centers, under technical coordination of the unit. Between 2024 and 2026, fourteen reviews were conducted, contributing to reduced response time to institutional demands, methodological standardization, and systematic incorporation of EIPs into decision-making processes.
CONCLUSIONS:
This experience demonstrates that rapid evidence syntheses constitute a feasible, sustainable, and institutionally robust strategy for operationalizing Evidence-Informed Policies within public health systems. The adopted model strengthens evidence-use governance and enhances the development of national clinical guidelines, promoting more equitable, transparent, and needs-oriented decision-making within the SUS.
The development of clinical guidelines takes place in a context of increasing complexity of scientific production and growing demand for timely decision-making within health systems¹. Evidence-Informed Policies (EIPs) aim to bridge evidence and decision-making processes², and rapid systematic reviews have emerged as strategic instruments to support decisions and the development of clinical guidelines based on the best available evidence³.
METHODS:
This is an experience report from the General Coordination of Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections (CGIST/DATHI/SVSA/Ministry of Health of Brazil) on the institutionalization of EIPs within the process of developing and updating Clinical Protocols and Therapeutic Guidelines (PCDTs) in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), in accordance with the national guideline development framework⁴. A structured workflow for the production of rapid systematic reviews was implemented to respond to decision-making demands in a timely manner. The workflow includes scope definition and formulation of research questions, systematic searching, study selection and data extraction, methodological quality appraisal using validated tools, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation into concise products to support deliberations by Technical Advisory Committees. Methodological decisions are explicitly documented, ensuring transparency and reproducibility.
RESULTS:
Rapid systematic reviews became the main technical input for discussions and deliberations of Technical Advisory Committees in the processes of developing and revising PCDTs. Reviews were produced internally by CGIST and by partner centers, under technical coordination of the unit. Between 2024 and 2026, fourteen reviews were conducted, contributing to reduced response time to institutional demands, methodological standardization, and systematic incorporation of EIPs into decision-making processes.
CONCLUSIONS:
This experience demonstrates that rapid evidence syntheses constitute a feasible, sustainable, and institutionally robust strategy for operationalizing Evidence-Informed Policies within public health systems. The adopted model strengthens evidence-use governance and enhances the development of national clinical guidelines, promoting more equitable, transparent, and needs-oriented decision-making within the SUS.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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