Article
Details
Citation
France EF, Cunningham M, Ring N, Uny I, Duncan E, Jepson RG, Maxwell M, Roberts RJ, Turley RL, Booth A, Britten N, Flemming K, Gallagher I, Garside R & Hannes K (2019) Improving reporting of Meta-Ethnography The eMERGe Reporting Guidance. Psycho-Oncology, 28 (3), pp. 447-458. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4915
Abstract
Aims
The aim of this study was to provide guidance to improve the completeness and clarity of meta‐ethnography reporting.
Background
Evidence‐based policy and practice require robust evidence syntheses which can further understanding of people's experiences and associated social processes. Meta‐ethnography is a rigorous seven‐phase qualitative evidence synthesis methodology, developed by Noblit and Hare. Meta‐ethnography is used widely in health research, but reporting is often poor quality and this discourages trust in and use of its findings. Meta‐ethnography reporting guidance is needed to improve reporting quality.
Design
The eMERGe study used a rigorous mixed‐methods design and evidence‐based methods to develop the novel reporting guidance and explanatory notes.
Methods
The study, conducted from 2015 to 2017, comprised of: (1) a methodological systematic review of guidance for meta‐ethnography conduct and reporting; (2) a review and audit of published meta‐ethnographies to identify good practice principles; (3) international, multidisciplinary consensus‐building processes to agree guidance content; (4) innovative development of the guidance and explanatory notes.
Findings
Recommendations and good practice for all seven phases of meta‐ethnography conduct and reporting were newly identified leading to 19 reporting criteria and accompanying detailed guidance.
Conclusion
The bespoke eMERGe Reporting Guidance, which incorporates new methodological developments and advances the methodology, can help researchers to report the important aspects of meta‐ethnography. Use of the guidance should raise reporting quality. Better reporting could make assessments of confidence in the findings more robust and increase use of meta‐ethnography outputs to improve practice, policy, and service user outcomes in health and other fields. This is the first tailored reporting guideline for meta‐ethnography.
Keywords
guideline; meta‐ethnography; nursing; publication standards; qualitative evidence synthesis; qualitative research; reporting; research design; systematic review
Notes
Additional co-authors: Simon Lewin, George W Noblit, Catherine Pope, James Thomas, Meredith Vanstone, Gina M A Higginbottom, Jane Noyes
Journal
Psycho-Oncology: Volume 28, Issue 3
Status | Published |
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Funders | National Institute for Health Research |
Publication date | 01/03/2019 |
Publication date online | 15/01/2019 |
Date accepted by journal | 03/07/2018 |
URL | http://hdl.handle.net/1893/28546 |
ISSN | 1057-9249 |
eISSN | 1099-1611 |
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