BACKGROUND Systematic reviews are a key input to health and social welfare decisions. Studies included in systematic reviews often vary with respect to contextual factors that may impact on how transferable review findings are to the review context. However, many review authors do not consider the transferability of review findings until the end of the review process, for example when assessing confidence in the evidence using GRADE or GRADE-CERQual. This paper describes the TRANSFER Approach, a novel approach for supporting collaboration between review authors and stakeholders from the beginning of the review process to systematically and transparently consider factors that may influence the transferability of systematic review findings. METHODS We developed the TRANSFER Approach in three stages: (1) discussions with stakeholders to identify current practices and needs regarding the use of methods to consider transferability, (2) systematic search for and mapping of 25 existing checklists related to transferability, and (3) using the results of stage two to develop a structured conversation format which was applied in three systematic review processes. RESULTS None of the identified existing checklists related to transferability provided detailed guidance for review authors on how to assess transferability in systematic reviews, in collaboration with decision makers. The content analysis uncovered seven categories of factors to consider when discussing transferability. We used these to develop a structured conversation guide for discussing potential transferability factors with stakeholders at the beginning of the review process. In response to feedback and trial and error, the TRANSFER Approach has developed, expanding beyond the initial conversation guide, and is now made up of seven stages which are described in this article. CONCLUSIONS The TRANSFER Approach supports review authors in collaborating with decision makers to ensure an informed consideration, from the beginning of the review process, of the transferability of the review findings to the review context. Further testing of TRANSFER is needed.

中文翻译：

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用于评估系统评价结果的可转移性的转移方法。

背景系统评价是健康和社会福利决策的关键输入。系统评价中包含的研究通常因背景因素而异，这些因素可能会影响评价结果在评价背景中的可转移性。然而，许多综述作者直到综述过程结束才考虑综述结果的可转移性，例如使用 GRADE 或 GRADE-CERQual 评估证据的置信度时。本文描述了转移方法，这是一种从审评过程一开始就支持综述作者和利益相关者之间合作的新颖方法，以系统地、透明地考虑可能影响系统评价结果可转移性的因素。方法 我们分三个阶段制定了转让方法：(1) 与利益相关者进行讨论，以确定有关使用考虑可转让性的方法的当前实践和需求，(2) 系统地搜索和绘制 25 个与可转让性相关的现有清单，以及 (3 ）利用第二阶段的结果开发了一种结构化对话格式，该格式应用于三个系统审查过程。结果 已确定的与可转移性相关的现有清单均未为综述作者提供有关如何与决策者合作评估系统评价中的可转移性的详细指导。内容分析揭示了讨论可转移性时需要考虑的七类因素。我们使用这些来开发结构化对话指南，以便在审核过程开始时与利益相关者讨论潜在的可转移性因素。为了响应反馈和反复试验，转移方法已经发展起来，超出了最初的对话指南，现在由本文中描述的七个阶段组成。结论 转移方法支持综述作者与决策者合作，以确保从审评过程一开始就审评结果向审评背景的可转移性进行知情考虑。需要对 TRANSFER 进行进一步测试。