Research and Environmental Scans

RPI has significant experience conducting research and environmental scans. We have done comprehensive literature reviews of peer-reviewed and grey literature to find evidence and best practices from the research and from other jurisdictions. We have also completed scoping reviews and reviews of documents and reports, and collected data from experts through interviews, focus groups, and surveys.

We are skilled in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data and information. We are experienced at compiling data from multiple sources into coherent intelligence our clients can use.

Sample Projects

Supporting Safer Prescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines

The Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program (NSPMP) hired RPI to conduct an environmental scan to identify best practices and evidence-based interventions that could improve opioid management therapy in three areas: first prescriptions, benzodiazepine therapy with a focus on long-term management, and concurrent prescribing. We reviewed academic and grey literature, including:

developing an analytic framework to compile information from the literature;
reviewing 800 academic articles and narrowing them to the 100 most relevant for a more detailed review; and
synthesizing the literature and writing a report on the findings.

We also presented our findings to the NSPMP board of directors to help inform future work, including potential initiatives to address safer prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.

Leading Practices to Create a Seamless Patient Experience for the Pre-diagnosis Phase of Care

We conducted an environmental scan for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to identify changes that could make care quicker and more efficient for patients who are going through the cancer diagnosis process.

reviewed the grey and academic literature;
interviewed experts in Canada and other countries; and
held a focus group with people that had cancer to better understand their diagnosis experience.

We integrated findings from all sources in a written report. We also presented the results at meetings with patients and with health care providers and representatives from the health system (such as cancer agencies).