Evidence maps and evidence visualizations are visual evidence synthesis products, which take complex data from health studies and present this data visually, to make the data easier to understand and use. Evidence maps and evidence visualizations can be used by various individuals, including:

• Physicians who can identify treatments for their patients and compare the effectiveness of different treatments
• Researchers who can identify new studies to be conducted by analyzing current gaps in the evidence base or where evidence from existing studies appears insufficient
• Patients who can identify treatments of interest, which they can bring to the attention of their clinician, thus encouraging patients to ask specific questions relating to their individual preferences and values

The backbone of these visual evidence synthesis products is the data underlying the map or visualization. A group of researchers conduct a thorough search of the literature, calculate their findings and comparisons (if there are two or more similar studies), and display their research results in an interactive data visualization. Once the data has been curated for the user, a team of developers create the format to best present the data to the user. The goal of an evidence map or evidence visualization is to facilitate evidence-informed decision making for clinicians and their patients.