Scan evidence products
Evidence products prepared or updated with funding from COVID-END in Canada can be accessed below. These evidence products were shared through our twice-a-month Canadian spotlights and through many of our dissemination partners.
Note that this page includes a suite of eight living evidence syntheses (LES) that synthesize the best-available evidence about the effectiveness of six public health and social measures (masks, quarantine and isolation, ventilation, physical distancing and reduction of contacts, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, cleaning, and disinfecting), as well as combinations of and adherence to these measures, in preventing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases in non-health care community-based settings.
| Title/question (if in progress) | Synthesis product type (product #) | Status | Date of last search (and publication) |
|---|---|---|---|
What is the long-term effectiveness of available COVID-19 vaccines for adults, including for variants of concern and over time frames beyond 112 days in those with a primary series and beyond 84 days in those with a primary series and an additional dose?
|
Living evidence synthesis (LES 10.16) |
Complete | 2023-03-29 (published 2023-03-30) |
|
What is the effectiveness of available COVID-19 vaccines for children and adolescents, including variants of concern? |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 8.22) | Complete | 2023-03-29 (published 2023-03-29) |
|
Public health surveillance programs, systems, and strategies to monitor the indirect population health impact attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health response measures |
Rapid synthesis (RS 18) |
Complete | 2023-02-27 (published 2023-05-08) |
|
How antimicrobial use, infection prevention, and health system changes have impacted the emergence, transmission, and burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during the COVID-19 pandemic |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 12.2) |
Complete | 2023-02-24 (published 2023-06-01) |
|
What is the incidence, associated risk factors, and clinical course of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination? |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 9.5) | Complete | 2023-02-04 (published 2023-03-30) |
|
Effectiveness of ventilation for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 15.2) | Complete | 2023-02-03 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Effectiveness of combinations of public health and social measures over time and across jurisdictions for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-healthcare community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 20.2) | Complete | 2023-02-03 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Effectiveness of interventions for promoting adherence to PHSMs for preventing COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 19.2) | Complete | 2023-02-03 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Effectiveness of quarantine and isolation for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, as well as impacting other individual and social outcomes in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 13.2) | Complete | 2023-01-30 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Effectiveness of masks for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 14.2) | Complete | 2023-01-30 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Effectiveness of measures to reduce contacts for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 16.2a) | Complete | 2023-01-27 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Effectiveness of physical distancing in reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 16.2b) | Complete | 2023-01-27 (published 2023-03-09) |
|
Which strategies did downstream health promotion approaches use or recommend to support capability, opportunity, and motivation for adoption and maintenance of individual behaviour change as part of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 17) |
Complete | 2023-01-10 (published 2023-05-08) |
|
Effectiveness of cleaning and disinfecting for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings
|
Living evidence synthesis (LES 18.2) | Complete | 2023-01-03 (published 2023-03-09) |
| How were downstream health-promotion approaches that focus on individual behaviour change conceived of and used, and with what effectiveness, as part of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response? |
Rapid evidence profile (REP 46.2) | Complete | 2023-01-27 (2023-02-07) |
|
Effectiveness of hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in non-health care community-based settings |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 17.1) | Complete | 2022-12-16 (published 2023-02-09) |
|
What are the characteristics of living-evidence syntheses currently available about public-health issues? |
Rapid evidence profile (REP #32) |
Complete | 2022-12-06 (published 2022-12-15) |
|
What is the socioeconomic impact of post COVID-19 condition (PCC)? |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 11.1) |
Complete | 7 October 2022 (published 2023-02-09) |
| Understanding the role of personal risk perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic |
Rapid synthesis (RS 16) |
Complete | 2022-09-30 (2022-10-14) |
|
What is the effectiveness of available COVID-19 vaccines for adults, including for variants of concern and over time frames up to 120 days?
|
Living evidence synthesis (LES 6.41) |
Complete | 2022-09-14 (published 2022-09-15) |
|
Effectiveness of border closures/travel restrictions, screening and/ or quarantine to control the international spread of COVID-19 |
Rapid synthesis (RS 14) |
Complete | 2022-04-17 (published 2022-06-30) |
|
What is the impact of implementing (or removing) COVID-19 vaccine mandates on trust in institutions and in science, on psychological reactance, and/or on intention to get future doses/vaccines? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 13) |
Complete | 2022-03-25 (published 2022-04-01) |
|
What is the best-available synthesized evidence in relation to addressing key issues related to care for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 17) |
Complete | 2022-02-16 (2022-02-17) |
|
What is the best-available synthesized evidence in relation to addressing key health human resources issues? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 16) |
Complete | 2022-02-16 (2022-02-17) |
|
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of the general population? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 15) |
Complete | 2022-02-06 (2022-02-10) |
|
How has the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., public-health measures, such as lockdowns) affected risk factors for chronic disease? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 14) |
Complete | 2022-02-06 (2022-02-10) |
|
What is the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of vaccines in the immunocompromised and those on dialysis? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 5.3) | Complete | 2022-01-17 (published 2022-05-30) |
| What is the filtration performance of KN95 masks compared to surgical and N95 masks, and how can their use be optimized in hospital settings? |
Rapid evidence profile (REP #28) |
Complete | 2022-01-10 (published 2022-01-12) |
| What measures and approaches can protect the most vulnerable in hospitals when outbreaks of Omicron in hospital are becoming more common? |
Rapid evidence profile (REP #27) |
Complete | 2022-01-06 (published 2022-01-10) |
|
What are the risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes in children 12 years and under? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 11.2) |
Complete | 2021-12-06 (2022-01-18) |
|
What is the best-available evidence about the management of long COVID symptoms and care models for long COVID patients? |
Living evidence synthesis (LES 7.2) |
Complete | 2021-12-04 (published 2021-12-15) |
|
What are the implications of SARS-CoV-2 variants for public-health measures and health-system arrangements?
|
Living evidence synthesis (LES 5.7) |
Complete | 2021-12-03 (published 2022-01-03) |
|
What are acceptable, effective approaches to organizing and delivering mental health and addictions services to adults virtually by registered health professionals? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 13) |
Complete | 2021-11-25 (2021-11-30) |
| Impact of rapid diagnostic testing on school closures |
Rapid synthesis (RS 12) |
Complete | 2021-11-06 (2022-01-07) |
| What evidence exists on the social and economic considerations for rapid diagnostic testing for COVID-19? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 2.2) |
Complete | 2021-11-03 (published 2021-11-09) |
What is known about supporting renewal in long-term care homes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?
|
Living evidence profile (LEP 2.5) |
Complete | 2021-10-27 (published 2021-11-15) |
|
What is the effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in persons who have had a prior, confirmed COVID-19 infection? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 4.2) |
Complete | 2021-10-15 (published 2021-11-02) |
|
Do COVID-19 vaccines approved in Canada cause VITT (as a subset of TTS cases occurring within 60 days of vaccine administration) as an adverse event at a population level?
|
Rapid synthesis (RS 9) |
Complete | 2021-10-11 (2022-02-09) |
|
What is the best-available evidence about the effects of public-health measures in schools (K-12), as well as about supporting adherence to these measures? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 12) |
Complete | 2021-09-28 (2021-10-06) |
|
What is known about how schools (K-12) and post-secondary institutions (colleges and universities) adjust COVID-19 transmission-mitigation measures as infection rates change and vaccination rates increase? |
Living evidence profile (LEP 3.3) |
Complete | 2021-09-02 (published 2021-09-07) |
|
How can behavioural-science thinking help to support messaging to and broader supports for citizens, particularly those drawn from equity-seeking groups, to encourage them to be vaccinated
|
Living evidence synthesis (LES 4.5) |
Complete | 2021-08-31 (2021-09-01) |
|
What are the ways that AI technologies have been applied by various jurisdictions worldwide to mitigate, control, or prevent the COVID19 pandemic and its consequences? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 7) |
Complete | 2021-08-28 (2021-09-21) |
|
What screening methods, interventions, and system-level approaches can be used to address burnout in direct patient care providers due to COVID-19? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 6) |
Complete | 2021-08-27 (2021-09-30) |
| Can people who are vaccinated develop asymptomatic COVID-19 infection and transmit the virus to other individuals and, if so, how large is the risk compared to unvaccinated people and those infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants? | Living evidence synthesis (LES 1.3) |
Complete | 2021-08-23 (published 2021-09-24) |
| Has there been a change in the rate of pregnant persons admitted to the ICU or developing severe COVID-19 outcomes? |
Rapid synthesis (RS 1) |
Complete | 2021-08-20 (published 2021-09-07) |
|
What went well and what could have gone better in the COVID-19 response in other countries, as well as what will need to go well in future given any available foresight work being conducted? |
Living evidence profile (LEP 5.3) |
Complete | 2021-08-13 (published 2021-08-13) |
|
What went well and what could have gone better in the COVID-19 response in Canada, as well as what will need to go well in future given any available foresight work being conducted? |
Living evidence profile (LEP 4.4) |
Complete | 2021-08-13 (published 2021-08-13) |
What scientific evidence and international guidance exists on surveillance approaches to SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern in the context of moderate-to-high vaccination rates and low prevalence?
|
Rapid synthesis (RS 3) |
Complete | 2021-06-25 (published 2021-06-28) |
| How can behavioural-science thinking help to support messaging to and broader supports for healthcare workers to encourage them to: a) be vaccinated; and b) address vaccine hesitancy and enable vaccine uptake among their patients and citizens more generally, particularly those drawn from equity-seeking groups | Living evidence synthesis (LES 3.3) |
Complete | 2021-06-18 (published 2021-06-21) |
|
What is the best-available evidence about mental health and addictions impacts during the second and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies to address such impacts for citizens and/or healthcare workers? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 11) |
Complete | 2021-06-02 (2021-06-02) |
What is known about anticipated COVID-19 vaccine roll-out elements?
|
Living evidence profile (LEP 1.7) |
Complete | 2021-05-28 |
|
What is the best-available evidence about the management of long COVID symptoms and care models for long COVID patients? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 10) |
Complete | 2021-05-07 (published 2021-05-11) |
|
How can vaccine acceptance and uptake be supported among equity seeking groups? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 5) |
Complete | 2021-05-04 |
|
What is known about the effects, communication, implementation and enforcement of nighttime curfews on COVID-19 infections? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 9) |
Complete | 2021-04-14 |
|
What is the best-available evidence about the use of colchicine and ivermectin for COVID-19? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 8) |
Complete | 2021-04-09 |
|
What is the best-available evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on developing coagulopathies? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 7) |
Complete | 2021-04-08 |
|
What is known about the development, implementation, and funding of long COVID-19 clinics across jurisdictions? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 6) |
Complete | 2021-04-06 |
|
What is the efficacy and effectiveness of available COVID-19 vaccines in general and specifically for variants of concern? |
Response based on existing resources (Response 4) |
Complete | 2021-03-26 |
| When and in what order can COVID-19-related public-health measures be lifted (or stringency be reduced) as vaccination rates and seasonal temperatures increase? | Rapid evidence profile (REP #26) |
Complete | 2021-03-17 (published 2021-03-18) |
| What are the transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern? | Rapid synthesis (RS 15) |
Complete | 2021-03-01 (published 2021-03-17) |
| What factors affect health workers’ attitudes toward vaccination uptake and what strategies have been successful in increasing vaccination among health workers? | Response based on existing resources (Response 3) |
Complete | Last updated 2021-02-04 |
| Can people who are vaccinated develop asymptomatic COVID-19 infection and transmit the virus to other individuals and, if so, how large is the risk compared to unvaccinated people? | Response based on existing resources (Response 2) |
Complete | Last updated 2021-02-04 |
| What do we know from both research and jurisdictional scans about prioritizing vaccination of asymptomatic residents in a long-term care home with an outbreak? | Rapid evidence profile (REP #25) |
Complete | 2021-01-19 (published 2021-01-20) |
| How can we best leverage existing resources to provide evidence-based advice on COVID-19 therapeutics and issue guidance statements to inform decision makers and healthcare professionals on the use of pharmaceuticals for the treatment or chemoprophylaxis of COVID-19? | Response based on existing resources (Response 1) |
Complete | Last updated 2020-12-20 |
Our evidence products can take many forms:
- response based on existing resources
- one-off rapid evidence profile or rapid synthesis
- living evidence profile or living evidence synthesis that is updated regularly.
Our evidence profiles and evidence syntheses vary in:
- the effort that goes into them, which we measure in the number of hours or days that a very large team of highly experienced staff devote exclusively to the task (e.g., four hours to three days for evidence profiles and for updates to living evidence profiles; five to ten days for rapid syntheses and for updates to living evidence syntheses)
- the type of best evidence they include and whether they also include a jurisdictional scan.
Below we provide examples of how these evidence products can vary.
| Product type | Best evidence | Jurisdictional scan |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid evidence profile (four hours) | Profile of existing evidence syntheses |
1-2 provinces and 1-2 countries |
| Rapid evidence profile (1 day) |
Same but with more decision-relevant information extracted and quality rating of evidence syntheses |
3-4 provinces and 3-4 countries |
| Rapid evidence profile (2 days) |
Same but with even more decision-relevant information extracted |
5-6 provinces and 5-6 countries |
| Rapid evidence profile (3 days) |
Same plus profile of singles studies |
All Canadian jurisdictions and up to 10 countries |
| Rapid review – Scoping (5-10 days) |
Inventory of syntheses and single studies |
No |
| Rapid review – Overview (5-10 days) |
Overview of syntheses with quality ratings |
No |
| Rapid review – Synthesis (5-10 days) |
Synthesis of single studies with risk-of-bias assessment |
No |