Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series-paper 2: methods for question formulation, searching, and protocol development for qualitative evidence synthesis
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This paper updates previous Cochrane guidance on question formulation, searching, and protocol development, reflecting recent developments in methods for conducting qualitative evidence syntheses to inform Cochrane intervention reviews. Examples are used to illustrate how decisions about boundaries for a review are formed via an iterative process of constructing lines of inquiry and mapping the available information to ascertain whether evidence exists to answer questions related to effectiveness, implementation, feasibility, appropriateness, economic evidence, and equity. The process of question formulation allows reviewers to situate the topic in relation to how it informs and explains effectiveness, using the criterion of meaningfulness, appropriateness, feasibility, and implementation. Questions related to complex questions and interventions can be structured by drawing on an increasingly wide range of question frameworks. Logic models and theoretical frameworks are useful tools for conceptually mapping the literature to illustrate the complexity of the phenomenon of interest. Furthermore, protocol development may require iterative question formulation and searching. Consequently, the final protocol may function as a guide rather than a prescriptive route map, particularly in qualitative reviews that ask more exploratory and open-ended questions.
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Metasynthesis remains an evolving methodology for the review of qualitative literature.
“Metasynthesis remains an evolving methodology for the review of qualitative literature [30, 110–112].”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [110]
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Porcelli, C., Anderson, F., & Kloess, J. A. (2026) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380251411261
- Authors
- Harris, J. L., Booth, A., Cargo, M., Hannes, K., Harden, A., Flemming, K., Garside, R., Pantoja, T., Thomas, J., & Noyes, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- University of South Australia (AU)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- University of East London (GB)
- University of York (GB)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Bangor University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Harris, Janet L.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-05
- Volume
- 97
- Pages
- 39-48
- ISSN
- 0895-4356 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2774161397
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 85
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 13.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- orcid.org
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- UEL Research Repository (University of East London) (acceptedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- UEL Research Repository (University of East London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Bangor University Research Portal (Bangor University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Keywords
- qualitative evidence synthesis, question generation, literature searching, logic model, theoretical framework, complex interventions, implementation research, feasibility, appropriateness, economic evidence, equity
- MeSH terms
- Systematic Reviews as Topic, Decision Making, Delivery of Health Care, Humans, Research Design, Guidelines as Topic, Evidence-Based Medicine, Qualitative Research
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