Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence

Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence Publisher Pubmed

Colvin CJ¹ ; Garside R² ; Wainwright M¹ ; Munthekaas H³ ; Glenton C³ ; Bohren MA⁴ ; Carlsen B⁵ ; Tuncalp O⁴ ; Noyes J⁶ ; Booth A⁷ ; Rashidian A^{8, 9} ; Flottorp S³ ; Lewin S^{3, 10}

Show Affiliations

1. University of Cape Town, Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa
2. University of Exeter Medical School, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Exeter, United Kingdom
3. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
4. WHO, UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Spec. Programme Research, Dev., Research Training in Human Reprod., Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Geneva, Switzerland
5. Uni Research Rokkan Centre, Bergen, Norway
6. Bangor University, School of Social Sciences, Bangor, United Kingdom
7. University of Sheffield, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), Sheffield, United Kingdom
8. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran
9. World Health Organization, Information, Evidence and Research Department, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
10. South African Medical Research Council, Health Systems Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa

Source: Implementation Science Published:2018

Abstract

Background: The GRADE-CERQual (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) approach has been developed by the GRADE working group. The approach has been developed to support the use of findings from qualitative evidence syntheses in decision-making, including guideline development and policy formulation. CERQual includes four components for assessing how much confidence to place in findings from reviews of qualitative research (also referred to as qualitative evidence syntheses): (1) methodological limitations, (2) relevance, (3) coherence and (4) adequacy of data. This paper is part of a series providing guidance on how to apply CERQual and focuses on CERQual's coherence component. Methods: We developed the coherence component by searching the literature for definitions, gathering feedback from relevant research communities and developing consensus through project group meetings. We tested the CERQual coherence component within several qualitative evidence syntheses before agreeing on the current definition and principles for application. Results: When applying CERQual, we define coherence as how clear and cogent the fit is between the data from the primary studies and a review finding that synthesises that data. In this paper, we describe the coherence component and its rationale and offer guidance on how to assess coherence in the context of a review finding as part of the CERQual approach. This guidance outlines the information required to assess coherence, the steps that need to be taken to assess coherence and examples of coherence assessments. Conclusions: This paper provides guidance for review authors and others on undertaking an assessment of coherence in the context of the CERQual approach. We suggest that threats to coherence may arise when the data supporting a review finding are contradictory, ambiguous or incomplete or where competing theories exist that could be used to synthesise the data. We expect the CERQual approach, and its individual components, to develop further as our experiences with the practical implementation of the approach increase. © 2018 The Author(s).

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Style	Citing Format
MLA	Colvin CJ, et al.. "Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence." Implementation Science, vol. 13, no. , 2018, pp. -.
APA	Colvin CJ, Garside R, Wainwright M, Munthekaas H, Glenton C, Bohren MA, Carlsen B, Tuncalp O, Noyes J, Booth A, Rashidian A, Flottorp S, Lewin S (2018). Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence. Implementation Science, 13(), -.
Chicago	Colvin CJ, Garside R, Wainwright M, Munthekaas H, Glenton C, Bohren MA, Carlsen B, et al.. "Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence." Implementation Science 13, no. (2018): -.
Harvard	Colvin CJ et al. (2018) 'Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence', Implementation Science, 13(), pp. -.
Vancouver	Colvin CJ, Garside R, Wainwright M, Munthekaas H, Glenton C, Bohren MA, et al.. Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence. Implementation Science. 2018;13():-.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Colvin CJ and Garside R and Wainwright M and Munthekaas H and Glenton C and Bohren MA and Carlsen B and Tuncalp O and Noyes J and Booth A and Rashidian A and Flottorp S and Lewin S}, title = {Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence}, journal = {Implementation Science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {-}, year = {2018} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Colvin CJ AU - Garside R AU - Wainwright M AU - Munthekaas H AU - Glenton C AU - Bohren MA AU - Carlsen B AU - Tuncalp O AU - Noyes J AU - Booth A AU - Rashidian A AU - Flottorp S AU - Lewin S TI - Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings-Paper 4: How to Assess Coherence JO - Implementation Science VL - 13 IS - SP - EP - PY - 2018 ER -

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