Table 1 Characteristics of the included systematic reviews. Reviews are ordered chronologically, from most to least recent, and alphabetically within years

Featherstone et al., 2015 [31]; Hartling et al., 2015 [32]

Healthcare decision makers

RR – not clearly defined

53 articles: 8 background articles; 3 studies with empiric data; 12 reviews of RR types; 30 articles on RR methods

Type of product; Methods used^a; Comparison of RRs and SRs

4

Harker & Kleijnen, 2012 [21]

Those making HTA assessments in healthcare

RRs of HTAs

46 full RRs; 3 summaries of RRs

Methods used; Time to complete

2

Abrami et al., 2010 [19]

Policy-makers and practitioners

RRs – defined as a review completed in a timely fashion (i.e. within 6 months) or defined by the authors as such

42 RRs

Methods used

2

Ganann et al., 2010 [18]

Health system planners and policymakers

RRs – undefined

25 RRs; 45 methods articles

Nomenclature; Methods used; Comparison of RRs and SRs; Implications of methods used

2

Cameron et al., 2007 [30]; Watt et al., 2008 [33]

HTA agencies and users

RR, defined as a HTA report or SR that has taken between 1 and 6 months to produce, which contains the elements of a comprehensive literature search

12 studies: 1 guideline (abstract); 3 program evaluations; 2 comparative studies; 2 methods studies; 3 commentaries; 1 survey

RR initiation and rationale; Methods used; Content; Time to complete; Dissemination and impact; Peer review procedures; Quality evaluation of the RR

2