Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings: Introduction to the Series

Applying Grade-Cerqual to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Findings: Introduction to the Series Publisher Pubmed

Lewin S^{1, 2} ; Booth A³ ; Glenton C¹ ; Munthekaas H¹ ; Rashidian A^{4, 5} ; Wainwright M⁶ ; Bohren MA⁷ ; Tuncalp O⁷ ; Colvin CJ⁶ ; Garside R⁸ ; Carlsen B⁹ ; Langlois EV¹⁰ ; Noyes J¹¹

Show Affiliations

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

Source: Implementation Science Published:2018

Abstract

The GRADE-CERQual ('Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research') approach provides guidance for assessing how much confidence to place in findings from systematic reviews of qualitative research (or qualitative evidence syntheses). The approach has been developed to support the use of findings from qualitative evidence syntheses in decision-making, including guideline development and policy formulation. Confidence in the evidence from qualitative evidence syntheses is an assessment of the extent to which a review finding is a reasonable representation of the phenomenon of interest. CERQual provides a systematic and transparent framework for assessing confidence in individual review findings, based on consideration of four components: (1) methodological limitations, (2) coherence, (3) adequacy of data, and (4) relevance. A fifth component, dissemination (or publication) bias, may also be important and is being explored. As with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach for effectiveness evidence, CERQual suggests summarising evidence in succinct, transparent, and informative Summary of Qualitative Findings tables. These tables are designed to communicate the review findings and the CERQual assessment of confidence in each finding. This article is the first of a seven-part series providing guidance on how to apply the CERQual approach. In this paper, we describe the rationale and conceptual basis for CERQual, the aims of the approach, how the approach was developed, and its main components. We also outline the purpose and structure of this series and discuss the growing role for qualitative evidence in decision-making. Papers 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in this series discuss each CERQual component, including the rationale for including the component in the approach, how the component is conceptualised, and how it should be assessed. Paper 2 discusses how to make an overall assessment of confidence in a review finding and how to create a Summary of Qualitative Findings table. The series is intended primarily for those undertaking qualitative evidence syntheses or using their findings in decision-making processes but is also relevant to guideline development agencies, primary qualitative researchers, and implementation scientists and practitioners. © 2018 The Author(s).

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Sakineh Shab-Bidar (18)

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

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