Cited by 515Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsHealth Policy Implementation ScienceQualitative Research Methods and Applications

Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews

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Thomas, James, Harden, Angela, Oakley, Ann, Oliver, Sandy, Sutcliffe, Katy, Rees, Rebecca, Brunton, Ginny, Kavanagh, Josephine·2004·BMJ

Abstract

Research questionWhat is known about the barriers to, and facilitators of, fruit and vegetable intake among children aged 4-10 years?Synthesis of quantitative and qualitative studies Controlled trials 1. Application of inclusion criteria 2. Quality assessment (n=33) 3. Data extraction 4. Quantitative synthesis (n=21) Qualitative trials 1. Application of inclusion criteria 2. Quality assessment (n=8) 3. Data extraction 4. Quantitative synthesis (n=8) Fig 1 Stages of the review Evidence for Policy

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  • The use to date of interpretive approaches to synthesis has been confined to the synthesis of qualitative research only.

    “In general, the use to date of interpretive approaches to synthesis has been confined to the synthesis of qualitative research only [6-8].”

    From Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups (2006) · cites this paper as [8]

    The paper’s “Synthesis 3: bringing the two sets of studies together” describes using findings from an interpretive qualitative synthesis to combine evidence from qualitative studies and controlled trials. The Discussion calls this integration a new review method, contrary to the unqualified claim that such approaches had been confined to synthesising qualitative research only. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.80)

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  • Methods for including qualitative and quantitative evidence in systematic reviews developed by the EPPI Centre have involved refinements and extensions of conventional systematic review methodology and have limited their application of interpretive techniques to synthesis of qualitative evidence.

    “Methods for including qualitative and quantitative evidence in systematic reviews developed by the EPPI Centre at the Institute of Education, London, have involved refinements and extensions of conventional systematic review methodology [6-8], and have limited their application of interpretive techniques to synthesis of qualitative evidence.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Peersman G, Oliver S, Oakley A. EPPI-Centre review guidelines: data collec- tions for the EPIC database. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 1997.
  2. Medical Sociology Group. Criteria for the evaluation of qualitative research papers. Med Sociol News 1996;22:69-71.

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Authors
Thomas, J., Harden, A., Oakley, A., Oliver, S., Sutcliffe, K., Rees, R., Brunton, G., & Kavanagh, J.
Affiliations
University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Thomas, James
Venue
BMJ
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2004-04-22
Volume
328
Issue
7446
Pages
1010-1012
ISSN
  • 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
  • 0959-8138
  • 1468-5833
OpenAlex
W2015804289
Cited by
515
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 41
FWCI
6.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMJ (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UEL Research Repository (University of East London) (acceptedVersion)
  • UEL Research Repository (University of East London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
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
fruit and vegetable intake, children, barriers and facilitators, dietary behavior, mixed methods synthesis, systematic review methodology
MeSH terms
Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Quality Assurance, Health Care, Review Literature as Topic, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Biomedical Research

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