TY - JOUR

T1 - Celebrating methodological challenges and changes

T2 - reflecting on the emergence and importance of the role of qualitative evidence in Cochrane reviews

AU - Hannes, Karin

AU - Booth, Andrew

AU - Harris, Janet

AU - Noyes, Jane

PY - 2013/10/17

Y1 - 2013/10/17

N2 - Cochrane systematic reviews have proven to be beneficial for decision making processes, both on a practitioner and a policy level, and there are current initiatives to extend the types of evidence used by them, including qualitative research. In this article we outline the major achievements of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Although the Group has encountered numerous challenges in dealing with the evolution of qualitative evidence synthesis, both outside and within the Cochrane Collaboration, it has successfully responded to the challenges posed in terms of incorporating qualitative evidence in systematic reviews. The Methods Group will continue to advocate for more flexible and inclusive approaches to evidence synthesis in order to meet the exciting challenges and opportunities presented by mixed methods systematic reviews and reviews of complex interventions.

AB - Cochrane systematic reviews have proven to be beneficial for decision making processes, both on a practitioner and a policy level, and there are current initiatives to extend the types of evidence used by them, including qualitative research. In this article we outline the major achievements of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Although the Group has encountered numerous challenges in dealing with the evolution of qualitative evidence synthesis, both outside and within the Cochrane Collaboration, it has successfully responded to the challenges posed in terms of incorporating qualitative evidence in systematic reviews. The Methods Group will continue to advocate for more flexible and inclusive approaches to evidence synthesis in order to meet the exciting challenges and opportunities presented by mixed methods systematic reviews and reviews of complex interventions.

KW - Biomedical Research

KW - Evidence-Based Medicine

KW - Humans

KW - Information Services

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Review Literature as Topic

KW - Editorial

U2 - 10.1186/2046-4053-2-84

DO - 10.1186/2046-4053-2-84

M3 - Article

C2 - 24135194

VL - 2

SP - 84

JO - Systematic Reviews

JF - Systematic Reviews

SN - 2046-4053

ER -