Including qualitative research in systematic reviews: opportunities and problems

Authors: Dixon-Woods, Mary¹; Fitzpatrick, Ray²; Roberts, Karen³

Source: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, Volume 7, Number 2, May 2001 , pp. 125-133(9)

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Abstract:

Qualitative research has been increasingly recognized in recent years as having a distinctive and important contribution to make to health care research. It is capable of being used as a methodologically sufficient approach in its own right, as a precursor to quantitative studies, during or after trials to explain processes and outcomes, and as a means of enhancing the link between evidence and practice. However, qualitative research has been little used as an evidence resource for systematic reviews. We argue that formal synthesis of both qualitative and quantitative forms of research is essential, and we discuss some of the problems that need to be overcome in carrying out such syntheses. These include methodological prejudice, problems in searching for qualitative evidence, and issues in synthesizing qualitative data. We call for progress to be made on the science and methods of including qualitative research in the evidence base of medicine.

Keywords: evidence-based medicine; meta-analysis; qualitative research; research design; randomized controlled trials

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Lecturer in Health Policy and 2: Professor of Public Health and Primary Care, Division of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK 3: Research Associate, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

Publication date: 2001-05-01