Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews

Synthesizing diverse evidence: the use of primary qualitative data analysis methods and logic models in public health reviews

“…15,16 Researchers in the area caution however, that approaches to qualitative synthesis of secondary research need to be further developed to be just as explicit as methods in primary research, 9 and that forms of data extraction used for this type of study require further improvement and evaluation. 10,11 Whilst it is argued that the benefit of including diverse study types in a review is to provide context for interventions and explanations for their effects, 17 the integration of different types of data in the same review remains a key challenge. 17 In some reviews different types of evidence are given different weighting or are used to answer different sub-questions.…”

“…10,11 Whilst it is argued that the benefit of including diverse study types in a review is to provide context for interventions and explanations for their effects, 17 the integration of different types of data in the same review remains a key challenge. 17 In some reviews different types of evidence are given different weighting or are used to answer different sub-questions.…”

Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series—paper 3: methods for assessing methodological limitations, data extraction and synthesis, and confidence in synthesized qualitative findings

“…A classic illustration of the use of a matrix for integration is offered by Thomas and colleagues [27] in a review to address how to promote healthy eating amongst children. This review included a thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence as well as a statistical meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised trials.…”

“…Hypotheses generated by syntheses of qualitative and process evaluation evidence can be tested by grouping studies according to the presence or absence of the proposition specified by the hypotheses to be tested. In the healthy eating review described above [27], the implications -or hypotheses -for interventions to promote healthy eating, derived from qualitative research on children's perspectives and experiences, M A N U S C R I P T…”

“…Features/factors influencing implementation are examined one by one Using logic models/conceptual framework Factors influencing implementation of lay health worker programmes [44] a School-based behavioural interventions to prevent sexually transmitted infections [59] Contextual features from qualitative research are integrated holistically with findings on effectiveness to develop or refine the logic model Development of framework is flexible and can incorporate stakeholder input when description in published studies is poor Analysing programme theory School feeding programmes for disadvantaged children [54] Interventions to prevent repeat teenage pregnancy [64] a Contextual features from qualitative research are integrated holistically with effectiveness findings to develop and refine programme theory Expertise in programme theory required (e.g.realist evaluation) Testing hypotheses derived using subgroup analysis Promoting positive health behaviours [27] Hypotheses from qualitative synthesis can be tested statistically Requires sufficient numbers of trials to conduct sub-group analysis Features/factors influencing implementation are examined one by one Qualitative comparative analysis.…”