Emma F France1, Maggie Cunningham1, Nicola Ring2, Isabelle Uny1, Edward A S Duncan1, Ruth G Jepson3, Margaret Maxwell1, Rachel J Roberts1, Ruth L Turley4, Andrew Booth5, Nicky Britten6, Kate Flemming7, Ian Gallagher8, Ruth Garside6, Karin Hannes9, Simon Lewin10,11, George W Noblit12, Catherine Pope13, James Thomas14, Meredith Vanstone15, Gina M A Higginbottom16, Jane Noyes17. 1. University of Stirling, Stirling, UK. 2. Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK. 3. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. 4. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. 5. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. 6. University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK. 7. Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK. 8. eMERGe project, Stirling, UK. 9. University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 10. Global Health Unit Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Health Systems Research Unit, Oslo, Norway. 11. South African Medical Research Council, Capetown, South Africa. 12. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 13. University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. 14. EPPI-Centre Institute of Education, London, UK. 15. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 16. School of Health Sciences & Centre for Evidence Based Health Care, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. 17. Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Abstract
AIMS: The aim of this study was to provide guidance to improve the completeness and clarity of meta-ethnography reporting. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based policy and practice require robust evidence syntheses which can further understanding of people's experiences and associated social processes. Meta-ethnography is a rigorous seven-phase qualitative evidence synthesis methodology, developed by Noblit and Hare. Meta-ethnography is used widely in health research, but reporting is often poor quality and this discourages trust in and use of its findings. Meta-ethnography reporting guidance is needed to improve reporting quality. DESIGN: The eMERGe study used a rigorous mixed-methods design and evidence-based methods to develop the novel reporting guidance and explanatory notes. METHODS: The study, conducted from 2015 to 2017, comprised of: (1) a methodological systematic review of guidance for meta-ethnography conduct and reporting; (2) a review and audit of published meta-ethnographies to identify good practice principles; (3) international, multidisciplinary consensus-building processes to agree guidance content; (4) innovative development of the guidance and explanatory notes. FINDINGS: Recommendations and good practice for all seven phases of meta-ethnography conduct and reporting were newly identified leading to 19 reporting criteria and accompanying detailed guidance. CONCLUSION: The bespoke eMERGe Reporting Guidance, which incorporates new methodological developments and advances the methodology, can help researchers to report the important aspects of meta-ethnography. Use of the guidance should raise reporting quality. Better reporting could make assessments of confidence in the findings more robust and increase use of meta-ethnography outputs to improve practice, policy, and service user outcomes in health and other fields. This is the first tailored reporting guideline for meta-ethnography. This article is being simultaneously published in the following journals: Journal of Advanced Nursing, Psycho-oncology, Review of Education, and BMC Medical Research Methodology.
AIMS: The aim of this study was to provide guidance to improve the completeness and clarity of meta-ethnography reporting. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based policy and practice require robust evidence syntheses which can further understanding of people's experiences and associated social processes. Meta-ethnography is a rigorous seven-phase qualitative evidence synthesis methodology, developed by Noblit and Hare. Meta-ethnography is used widely in health research, but reporting is often poor quality and this discourages trust in and use of its findings. Meta-ethnography reporting guidance is needed to improve reporting quality. DESIGN: The eMERGe study used a rigorous mixed-methods design and evidence-based methods to develop the novel reporting guidance and explanatory notes. METHODS: The study, conducted from 2015 to 2017, comprised of: (1) a methodological systematic review of guidance for meta-ethnography conduct and reporting; (2) a review and audit of published meta-ethnographies to identify good practice principles; (3) international, multidisciplinary consensus-building processes to agree guidance content; (4) innovative development of the guidance and explanatory notes. FINDINGS: Recommendations and good practice for all seven phases of meta-ethnography conduct and reporting were newly identified leading to 19 reporting criteria and accompanying detailed guidance. CONCLUSION: The bespoke eMERGe Reporting Guidance, which incorporates new methodological developments and advances the methodology, can help researchers to report the important aspects of meta-ethnography. Use of the guidance should raise reporting quality. Better reporting could make assessments of confidence in the findings more robust and increase use of meta-ethnography outputs to improve practice, policy, and service user outcomes in health and other fields. This is the first tailored reporting guideline for meta-ethnography. This article is being simultaneously published in the following journals: Journal of Advanced Nursing, Psycho-oncology, Review of Education, and BMC Medical Research Methodology.
Authors: Emma F France; Isabelle Uny; Nicola Ring; Ruth L Turley; Margaret Maxwell; Edward A S Duncan; Ruth G Jepson; Rachel J Roberts; Jane Noyes Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2019-02-18 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Tom I Bootsma; Melanie P J Schellekens; Rosalie A M van Woezik; Marije L van der Lee; Jenny Slatman Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2019-09-10 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Roberto Rafael Cruz-Martínez; Jobke Wentzel; Rikke Aune Asbjørnsen; Peter Daniel Noort; Johan Magnus van Niekerk; Robbert Sanderman; Julia Ewc van Gemert-Pijnen Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-05-21 Impact factor: 5.428