Key sources of evidence to support OHT decision-making during and beyond the pandemic

Decision-makers supporting the development of OHTs across the province are in need of timely access to the best available, pre-appraised, synthesized research evidence that can inform their pandemic-response decisions in the short term, as well as the many decisions that will be needed as the focus shifts towards pandemic recovery in Ontario over the long term.

In the short term, OHTs can keep up to date by signing up for twice-a-month emails that provide:

  • Canadian spotlights, which profile evidence syntheses completed (or undertaken) by COVID-END in Canada and the 40+ Canadian evidence-synthesis teams that are part of the network
    • global spotlights, which profile where evidence has changed based on the best syntheses in the world, including updates to ‘best’ living evidence syntheses and new ‘best’ evidence syntheses
  • horizon scans, which are published once a month and include a briefing note about emerging issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic response (applicable both globally and in Canada) as well as a panel summary that highlights those issues where evidence syntheses will be needed in future.

When a question pops up, OHTs can:

  • scan the evidence products prepared (and in many cases, regularly updated) by the Canadian evidence-synthesis teams mentioned above at the request of Canadian decision-makers
  • review COVID-END’s inventory of the best evidence syntheses about COVID-19 in the world (which will soon be complemented by a searchable database that includes more than 4,000 quality-appraised evidence syntheses.

As Ontario eventually shifts focus towards pandemic-recovery decisions, OHTs may also be interested in understanding what is known based on the best-available evidence about the many health- and social-system questions that will emerge, such as how to optimize the delivery of backlogged services, or the role that community and social services can play in supporting the mental health and addictions needs of Ontarians. Here they may want to sign up for customized emails from or search two of the world’s most comprehensive sources for pre-appraised, synthesized research evidence about these types of questions: Health Systems Evidence (for questions about health-systems arrangements) and Social Systems Evidence (for questions about strengthening 20 government sectors and program areas).