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Making a difference: towards a method for weighing the evidence in a qualitative synthesis.
- Source :
- Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice; Aug2011, Vol. 17 Issue 4, p657-663, 7p, 2 Charts, 1 Graph
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Objectives In a qualitative synthesis, primary qualitative studies are integrated to develop a theory or evidence-based interventions. Until now, the strength of the evidence in the primary studies has not been taken into account in the outcome of the qualitative synthesis. In this paper, a method is developed and evaluated to assign weights to the findings of the qualitative studies using both the frequency and the quality of the reported results. Method Seventeen qualitative studies were retrieved in an illustrative example project on children and trauma. Findings were extracted from the primary studies with the use of coding which resulted in 14 themes. The quality of the studies was appraised using both expert judgement and a quality checklist. These outcomes are used to calculate the weights. Results When the outcomes of the checklist appraisal are compared with those of the expert judgement, the effect on the strength of the evidence is virtually always in the same direction. We found that as the frequency with which a concept is studied is low, the strength of the evidence oftentimes decreases even further when using the quality of the results in the weighing process. Conclusions In the end, the outcomes of a critical appraisal affect the weight that is placed on particular studies. The use of a checklist is recommended because of its more distinguishing ability. The method that was developed for assigning weights to the evidence is discussed in light of both the quality appraisal in qualitative research and the objectives of qualitative synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- QUALITATIVE research methodology
CINAHL database
MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems
PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems
ABSTRACTING & indexing of medical records
MEDLINE
ONLINE information services
QUALITY assurance
INDUSTRIAL research
WOUNDS & injuries
EVIDENCE-based medicine
THEMATIC analysis
INTER-observer reliability
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13561294
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 63476137
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2011.01674.x