Conducting a meta-ethnography of qualitative literature: Lessons learnt

نویسندگان

  • Salla Atkins
  • Simon Lewin
  • Helen Smith
  • Mark Engel
  • Atle Fretheim
  • Jimmy Volmink
چکیده

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.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Lessons learnt from implementation of the International Health Regulations: a systematic review

Objective To respond to the World Health Assembly call for dissemination of lessons learnt from countries that have begun implementing the International Health Regulations, 2005 revision; IHR (2005). Methods In November 2015, we conducted a systematic search of the following online databases and sources: PubMed®, Embase®, Global Health, Scopus, World Health Organization (WHO) Global Index Med...

متن کامل

Using meta ethnography to synthesise qualitative research: a worked example.

OBJECTIVES To demonstrate the benefits of applying meta ethnography to the synthesis of qualitative research, by means of a worked example. METHODS Four papers about lay meanings of medicines were arbitrarily chosen. Noblit and Hare's seven-step process for conducting a meta ethnography was employed: getting started; deciding what is relevant to the initial interest; reading the studies; dete...

متن کامل

Documentary and Ethnography: Exploring Ethical Fieldwork Models

Conducting fieldwork frequently sparks ethical challenges as researcher and environment clash. This paper seeks to address these challenges, using documentary and ethnography methodologies as a lens to illuminate different ways of thinking about fieldwork ethics. In line with its more qualitative nature, this paper will accomplish its task via meta-analysis and historiography, analyzing past te...

متن کامل

Why, when and how to update a meta-ethnography qualitative synthesis

BACKGROUND Meta-ethnography is a unique, systematic, qualitative synthesis approach widely used to provide robust evidence on patient and clinician beliefs and experiences and understandings of complex social phenomena. It can make important theoretical and conceptual contributions to health care policy and practice. RESULTS Since beliefs, experiences, health care contexts and social phenomen...

متن کامل

The use of street-level bureaucracy theory in health policy analysis in low- and middle-income countries: a meta-ethnographic synthesis.

This article presents a synthesis of studies that explicitly use the theory of street-level bureaucracy to illuminate health policy implementation in low- and middle-income countries. Street-level bureaucrats are frontline workers in bureaucracies, e.g. nurses, who regularly interact directly with citizens in discharging their policy implementation duties and who have some discretion over which...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • BMC Medical Research Methodology

دوره 8  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2008