Appraising studies in health using rapid assessment procedures (RAP): Eleven critical criteria

In recent years, rapid assessment procedures (RAP) have resulted in many descriptive health studies of potential utility to the wider social science community. However, as RAP departs from the in-depth, more holistic style of qualitative research, it is important to develop criteria for judging the quality of individual studies. In this paper we propose I I criteria and apply them to published RAP studies, taking into consideration the limitations inherent in RAP studies and common methodological problems. The criteria cover important aspects from preparation to presentation of findings, We found that authors typically do not include adequate information to address all criteria. We suggest that greater attention to these issues would enhance the strengths of RAP studies as contributions to social science.