Fiona Campbell1, Laura Weeks2, Andrew Booth3, David Kaunelis2, Andrea Smith2. 1. School of Health & Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. Electronic address: f.campbell@sheffield.ac.uk. 2. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, Ottawa, Ontario K1S5S8, Canada. 3. School of Health & Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to identify existing methodological guidance for the conduct of rapid qualitative evidence syntheses and examples of rapid qualitative evidence syntheses to describe the methods used. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a systematic scoping review. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, gray literature, including PROSPERO, with no date limits and solicited examples through experts and researchers in the field. RESULTS: We found no methodological guidance to direct the conduct of rapid qualitative evidence synthesis and 15 examples including 13 completed reviews and two protocols. Diverse methods to abbreviate the review process were followed, which largely mirror methods developed for rapid reviews of clinical effects. Abbreviated search strategies, including date and language restrictions, were common, as was the use of a single reviewer for screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. Descriptive approaches to synthesis, such as thematic synthesis, were more common than interpretive approaches, such as metaethnography. CONCLUSION: There is a need to develop and explore methods for the synthesis of qualitative research that balance the need for rapidity with rigor. In the meantime, providing details on the methods used, shortcuts made, and the implications of such methodological choices, together with collective sharing of innovations, becomes more important under increased time constraints.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to identify existing methodological guidance for the conduct of rapid qualitative evidence syntheses and examples of rapid qualitative evidence syntheses to describe the methods used. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a systematic scoping review. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, gray literature, including PROSPERO, with no date limits and solicited examples through experts and researchers in the field. RESULTS: We found no methodological guidance to direct the conduct of rapid qualitative evidence synthesis and 15 examples including 13 completed reviews and two protocols. Diverse methods to abbreviate the review process were followed, which largely mirror methods developed for rapid reviews of clinical effects. Abbreviated search strategies, including date and language restrictions, were common, as was the use of a single reviewer for screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. Descriptive approaches to synthesis, such as thematic synthesis, were more common than interpretive approaches, such as metaethnography. CONCLUSION: There is a need to develop and explore methods for the synthesis of qualitative research that balance the need for rapidity with rigor. In the meantime, providing details on the methods used, shortcuts made, and the implications of such methodological choices, together with collective sharing of innovations, becomes more important under increased time constraints.
Authors: Ingrid Arevalo-Rodriguez; Karen R Steingart; Andrea C Tricco; Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit; David Kaunelis; Pablo Alonso-Coello; Susan Baxter; Patrick M Bossuyt; José Ignacio Emparanza; Javier Zamora Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2020-05-13 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Rae R A Petrucha; Elizabeth G Hansen; Lindsay D Ironside; Olivia J M Lafrance; Rhonda D T Bryce; Nicole A Jacobson; Vivian R Ramsden Journal: Can Geriatr J Date: 2022-03-02