How to integrate patient/consumer perspectives from qualitative synthesis within your Cochrane Review

Workshop category: 

  • Qualitative evidence synthesis methodology
Date and Location

Date: 

Monday 17 September 2018 - 11:00 to 12:30

Location: 

Kilsyth
Contact persons and facilitators

Contact person:

Andrew Booth

Facilitators:

Booth A1, Noyes J1, Harden A2
1 Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group, United Kingdom
2 , United Kingdom

Acknowledgements:

Thomas J1, Cargo M2, Harris J3, Pantoja T4, Flemming K5, Garside R6, Hannes K7
1 Institute of Education UCL, UK
2 University of South Australia, Australia
3 University of Sheffield, UK
4 Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
5 University of York, UK
6 University of Exeter, UK
7 KU Leuven, Belgium
Target audience

Target audience: 

Review authors, potential review authors and those with an interest in qualitative synthesis

Level of difficulty: 

Intermediate
Type of workshop

Type of workshop : 

Training
Abstract

Abstract:

Background:
Recent papers, in the BMJ and the WHO Bulletin, attest to increased recognition of the role of qualitative evidence within health care decision-making. Inclusion of qualitative evidence from patients, consumers, carers and their respective advocate groups, and other key stakeholders involved in commissioning and implementation within/alongside a systematic review of effects offers valuable perspectives to inform appropriate health decisions. Synthesis of qualitative research, from books, journals, theses, dissertations or grey literature, offers a vehicle for integrating patient/consumer experiences within a systematic review of effects.
For the first time at a Colloquium, published guidance from the Cochrane Qualitative & Implementation Methods Group (December 2017) exists to navigate the challenge of integrating findings from quantitative and qualitative studies. This workshop will be delivered by authors of this guidance experienced in integrating quantitative and qualitative data within systematic reviews and will outline such approaches as juxtaposing findings in a matrix, using logic models/conceptual frameworks, analyzing program theory, testing hypotheses with subgroup analysis and qualitative comparative analysis as featured in the recent guidance.
Objectives:
By the end of this workshop participants will be able to:
- recognise options for integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence within/alongside a systematic review of effects;
- identify points in the review process at which integration is feasible and appropriate;
- describe major challenges, and potential responses, when integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence;
- apply lessons learnt to their own review activity.
Description:
This interactive workshop is based on actual Cochrane Reviews (no specialist knowledge required) and presents options for integrating quantitative and qualitative data (10 minutes). Group exercises, supported by experienced facilitators, illustrate different methods of integration (50 minutes).
Groups are encouraged to think reflectively (10 minutes) on strengths and limitations of diverse approaches as featured in the recent guidance. The session concludes with an open forum to address specific issues relating to participants’ review activity (10 minutes). Timings allow 10 minutes for flexibility.
Attachments

Attachments: 

File How to integrate patient.docx

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

Qualitative evidence synthesis is a recognised method for integrating patient/consumer perspectives within decision-making, acknowledged in a seminal text on Patient Perspectives in Health Technology Assessment (2017). Inclusion of qualitative evidence within/alongside a Cochrane Review of effects will help to ensure that reviews are meaningful to patients/consumers and that clinicians and policy-makers factor in these critical perspectives into intervention decisions. Promoting methods for integrating published methods to reviewers offers an essential complement to involvement of patients/consumers in the review process.