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Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES)

A guide intended to introduce researchers to the principles of QES, the associated methodologies, and guidance on engaging in this mode of evidence synthesis.

Reporting

Reporting the findings of qualitative evidence synthesis is significant in health care settings in order to enhance the understanding of specific phenomena to influence practice. However, regardless of the context in which you are working, recognizing the significance of reporting guidance and its relation to the enhancement of research transparency and rigour is key. Given the disparate and diversity of approaches to QES, it is challenging to create a harmonized set of reporting guidelines. Some examples that are in current use are below. 

ENTREQ (Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research): a generic reporting tool developed to promote explicit and comprehensive reporting. 

Tong, A., Flemming, K., McInnes, E., Oliver, S., & Craig, J. (2012). Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research: ENTREQ. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 12(1), 181–181. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-181

eMERGe Reporting Guidance: Nineteen reporting criteria developed specifically for reporting results of meta-ethnographies. 

France, E. F., Cunningham, M., Ring, N., Uny, I., Duncan, E. A., Jepson, R. G., Maxwell, M., Roberts, R. J., Turley, R. L., Booth, A., Britten, N., Flemming, K., Gallagher, I., Garside, R., Hannes, K., Lewin, S., Noblit, G. W., Pope, C., Thomas, J., … Noyes, J. (2019). Improving reporting of meta‐ethnography: The eMERGe reporting guidance. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(5), 1126–1139. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13809