Background:
Consumers of evidence syntheses in the field of family support often need evidence quickly and cheaply. However, their research questions are complex and often reliant on poor quality evaluations. Commissioners of policy-relevant reviews may be disappointed when the available evidence is limited or diffuse and when they are not involved in the review process.

Objectives:
The Victorian Government (Australia) wanted to know the evidence for effectiveness of information technology interventions for parents. Our objective was to collaborate on a rapid review to provide maximum responsiveness to client requirements while retaining rigour.

Methods:
We consulted with our client at three stages: design, selection, and completion.
1) Consultation 1 - Strategy development - we developed search terms and strategies in consultation with the client.
We next conducted a search and selection process to scope the extent of relevant studies. Studies meeting selection criteria were segmented by outcomes, populations and technology platform types.
2) Consultation 2 - Scope refinement - we reported the array of studies identified to our clients, informing them of the results of different segmentations, but not of study effects or other details. Our client decided which segments were of greatest priority given their policy needs and available funding. We then assessed the evidence independently of the clients but within this narrower, refined scope.
3) Consultation 3 - Implications development - we reported our findings to the clients and they provided advice on review implications relevant to their policy and practice context.

Conclusions:
Our rapid review found that evidence for the use of information technology to improve outcomes for parents and children is in its infancy and depends on the effectiveness of underlying interventions. Typically, this kind of finding is considered to be of limited use to policy consumers; however our consultation process allowed us to refine the scope and contextualise the findings to maximise their utility. This review was well-received by the client and they have used the findings in subsequent projects.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
Family support policy consumers initiated the review, had final approval of search strategies, and input into refining the scope and review implications.