3.3.16 Developing recommendations for practice/research/policy

A recommendation for practice provides practical guidance that is aligned with the review findings, enabling healthcare decision-makers to achieve better outcomes in health and health service delivery.

Recommendations must enable a reader to consider the applicability to practice, policy or further research. The following guidance is provided to assist with the development of recommendations from a meta-aggregative review.

• Recommendations must be informed by the findings of the review.

• Recommendations should be actionable and are intended to guide individuals or organisations in achieving a desired outcome.

• A well-written recommendation will avoid ambiguity, be measurable and enable more consistent implementation.

• The more specific a recommendation, the easier it is to implement and the more likely it is to be acted upon. When wording recommendations, the following needs to be specified:

  • Population (i.e. age, sex, condition).

  • Phenomenon of interest (the experience).

  • Context (context may include the setting or other key characteristics, such as severity and illness).

• Each recommendation for practice must be assigned a JBI Grade of Recommendation (JBI Levels of Evidence and Grades of Recommendation Working Party 2014).

  • JBI Grades of Recommendation use a binary system for recommendations, where ‘Grade A’ refers to a strong recommendation, and ‘Grade B’ refers to a weak recommendation.

• Recommendations for research should be clearly stated to identify gaps in the current evidence base and guide future studies. They should:

  • Highlight specific areas where further evidence is needed.

  • Suggest the type of research required (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods).

  • Address the need for research on diverse populations and in various contexts to ensure findings are equitable and widely applicable.

• Recommendations for policy should:

  • Align directly with the evidence in the review.

  • Consider how the findings may address specific policy issues or gaps.

  • Assess whether the evidence supports recommendations that can be scaled up or adapted to different contexts.

  • Identify synergies and potential conflicts with current policies.

Additional information to consider when developing recommendations for practice, policy or research:

• Stakeholder involvement: Engage with relevant stakeholders, including practitioners, patients and policymakers, in developing and refining recommendations to ensure that they are practical and relevant.

• Equity considerations: Ensure recommendations address potential health disparities and promote equitable access to care and resources across different populations and settings.

• Ethical considerations: Acknowledge and address any ethical issues related to the recommendations, ensuring they respect patient autonomy and rights.

Examples of recommendations for practice/policy/research