Conducting a meta-ethnography of qualitative literature: Lessons learnt
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BACKGROUND: Qualitative synthesis has become more commonplace in recent years. Meta-ethnography is one of several methods for synthesising qualitative research and is being used increasingly within health care research. However, many aspects of the steps in the process remain ill-defined. DISCUSSION: We utilized the seven stages of the synthesis process to synthesise qualitative research on adherence to tuberculosis treatment. In this paper we discuss the methodological and practical challenges faced; of particular note are the methods used in our synthesis, the additional steps that we found useful in clarifying the process, and the key methodological challenges encountered in implementing the meta-ethnographic approach. The challenges included shaping an appropriate question for the synthesis; identifying relevant studies; assessing the quality of the studies; and synthesising findings across a very large number of primary studies from different contexts and research traditions. We offer suggestions that may assist in undertaking meta-ethnographies in the future. SUMMARY: Meta-ethnography is a useful method for synthesising qualitative research and for developing models that interpret findings across multiple studies. Despite its growing use in health research, further research is needed to address the wide range of methodological and epistemological questions raised by the approach.
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- Authors
- Atkins, S., Lewin, S., Smith, H., Engel, M., Fretheim, A., & Volmink, J.
- Affiliations
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Nasjonalt Kunnskapssenter for Helsetjenesten (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Atkins, Salla
- Venue
- BMC Medical Research Methodology
- Published
- 2008-04-16
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 21-21
- ISSN
- 1471-2288 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2374791
- OpenAlex
- W2022496169
- Cited by
- 981
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 79 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 94 · 2019: 74 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 48 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 20.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Medical Research Methodology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- LSTM Online Archive (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
- LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
- BIBSYS Brage (BIBSYS (Norway)) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Delphi Technique in Research
- Keywords
- meta-ethnography, qualitative evidence synthesis, tuberculosis treatment adherence, methodological issues, study quality assessment, research question formulation, health care research, epistemology of qualitative research
- MeSH terms
- Anthropology, Cultural, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Patient Compliance, Quality Control, Tuberculosis, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Qualitative Research
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