TY - JOUR
T1 - Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance paper 3: Methods for assessing methodological limitations, data extraction and synthesis, and confidence in synthesized qualitative findings
AU - Noyes, Jane
AU - Booth, Andrew
AU - Flemming, Kate
AU - Garside, Ruth
AU - Harden, Angela
AU - Lewin, Simon
AU - Pantoja, Tomas
AU - Hannes, Karin
AU - Cargo, Margaret
AU - Thomas, James
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - The Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group develops and publishes guidance on the synthesis of qualitative and mixed-method implementation evidence. Choice of appropriate methodologies, methods, and tools is essential when developing a rigorous protocol and conducting the synthesis. Cochrane authors who conduct qualitative evidence syntheses have thus far used a small number of relatively simple methods to address similarly written questions. Cochrane has invested in methodological work to develop new tools and to encourage the production of exemplar reviews to show the value of more innovative methods that address a wider range of questions. In this paper, in the series, we report updated guidance on the selection of tools to assess methodological limitations in qualitative studies and methods to extract and synthesize qualitative evidence. We recommend application of Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Qualitative Reviews to assess confidence in qualitative synthesized findings. This guidance aims to support review authors to undertake a qualitative evidence synthesis that is intended to be integrated subsequently with the findings of one or more Cochrane reviews of the effects of similar interventions. The review of intervention effects may be undertaken concurrently with or separate to the qualitative evidence synthesis. We encourage further development through reflection and formal testing.
AB - The Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group develops and publishes guidance on the synthesis of qualitative and mixed-method implementation evidence. Choice of appropriate methodologies, methods, and tools is essential when developing a rigorous protocol and conducting the synthesis. Cochrane authors who conduct qualitative evidence syntheses have thus far used a small number of relatively simple methods to address similarly written questions. Cochrane has invested in methodological work to develop new tools and to encourage the production of exemplar reviews to show the value of more innovative methods that address a wider range of questions. In this paper, in the series, we report updated guidance on the selection of tools to assess methodological limitations in qualitative studies and methods to extract and synthesize qualitative evidence. We recommend application of Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Qualitative Reviews to assess confidence in qualitative synthesized findings. This guidance aims to support review authors to undertake a qualitative evidence synthesis that is intended to be integrated subsequently with the findings of one or more Cochrane reviews of the effects of similar interventions. The review of intervention effects may be undertaken concurrently with or separate to the qualitative evidence synthesis. We encourage further development through reflection and formal testing.
KW - Cochrane
KW - GRADE CERQual
KW - Methodological limitations
KW - Qualitative evidence synthesis
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040356685&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a69f3de4-7974-30e0-a97a-201ae056cfa9/
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.06.020
DO - 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.06.020
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85040356685
SN - 0895-4356
VL - 97
SP - 49
EP - 58
JO - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
JF - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
ER -