Introduction to QES from Conception to Completion

Background

Health care policy and practice decisions should be based on a synthesis of the global body of evidence rather than relying on individual studies. Cochrane Ireland and Evidence Synthesis Ireland promote evidence based healthcare policy and practice by supporting high quality, relevant synthesised research evidence. Qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) is a process of scientific enquiry aimed at reviewing and rigorously integrating the findings of qualitative research. The primary aim is to interpret isolated, qualitative findings systematically and rigorously to inform healthcare policy and improve patient care. It is increasingly acknowledged that QES can play valuable role in Cochrane Reviews and an integral component of trial methodology nationally and internationally.

Aim

This workshop provides authors, at the beginning of the QES process, with a comprehensive overview of qualitative evidence synthesis and how Cochrane QES reviews are structured. It offers an insight to the development of a Cochrane protocol, introducing participants to Cochrane methodology, search methods, data extraction and meta-synthesis.

Learning outcomes

In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the basic principles of a qualitative evidence synthesis

• Identify the scope of their review

• Understand search methods & apply these methods to their search strategy

• Apply the criteria for selecting studies

• Understand the principles of extracting & synthesising findings from a QES

• Understand the application of Grade CERQual to QES findings

Teaching strategies

The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, led by members of the ESI teaching faculty covering each of the stages of developing a QES, breakout rooms will be used for small group activities based around worked examples and exercises and plenary discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to discuss and develop their understanding of the QES process. Participants’ will also be provided with a short reading list in advance of the workshop.

Course content/timetable

DAY 1

09:30 Welcome, introduction of presenters and outline of presentations

09:40 Introducing Qualitative Evidence Syntheses (QES): An overview of QES including key QES types and methods.

10:10 Focusing Your Review Question (Plenary Session and Exercise)

10:30 Break

10:45 Searching for Qualitative Evidence (Guided Search Example)

11:30 Screening and Inclusion processes, Selecting Studies and Extracting Data (Exercise)

12:30 Assessing the Quality of Studies

13.30 Close

DAY 2

09:30 Recap of day 1

10:00 Choosing a Method of Synthesis: Overview of Thematic, Framework and Meta-ethnography

11:00 Break

11:15 Generating Themes Organising and Interpreting the Findings

11:45 CERQual and Grading the Evidence

13:00 Q&A session

13:30 Close

Facilitators

Dr Linda Biesty, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, School of Nursing & Midwifery, NUIGalway. Twitter @LindaBiesty

Dr Pauline Meskell, Senior Lecturer, Dept.. Nursing & Midwifery, University of Limerick. Twitter @MeskellPauline @pauline_meskell

Dr Catherine Houghton, Senior Lecturer Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, NUIGalway. Twitter @houghtoncath

Dr Maura Dowling, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, NUIGalway