Qualitative Evidence Synthesis in Health Psychology

Abstract

Qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) provides a high-quality review of the qualitative evidence base, succinctly capturing and illustrating the complexity of the subjective lived experiences of people and communities. • QES and meta-synthesis have come to be used as umbrella terms for the systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research. • QES in health psychology usually involves interpretative synthesis to more fully understand the lived experience of a particular condition used to develop an intervention for that patient group. • QES can aggregate evidence to inform policy or the development of good practice guidance. • Guidance is available to support each stage of conducting a QES from a variety of sources including the World Health Organization, Cochrane, EQUATOR. Abstract Qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) provides a high-quality review of the qualitative evidence base, which are “uniquely situated to capture the full complexity of the subjective, lived experiences of people and communities” (WHO, 2021, p.2). In this chapter, we provide an overview of the history and contemporary development of QES. The proliferation of qualitative research in recent decades has resulted in a need to find systematic ways to synthesize qualitative research evidence. Such syntheses have value in health psychology and health sciences, as outcomes can inform researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to ensure evidence-based decision-making. QES has a long history starting with meta-ethnography and developing through various forms of narrative and interpretative synthesis. To guide health psychologists in their endeavour to complete their own QES, it is useful to draw on recent guidance from the World Health Organization which describes a step-by-step process. This chapter guides readers through topic selection, research question development, search strategies, critical appraisal, data extraction, evidence synthesis and reporting. In addition to explaining these processes, we highlight areas of challenge and debate and direct readers to resources to further help the development of their own QES projects. New approaches and perspectives on QES continue to develop and grow. Therefore, we conclude the chapter by looking forward towards more creative examples of evidence synthesis. We present our own worked examples of a Foucauldian-inspired Media Framing Analysis, and a poetic synthesis of caring experiences in the hope of inspiring new ways of thinking about QES