Qualitative systematic reviews or qualitative evidence syntheses (QES) are increasingly recognised as a way to enhance the value of systematic reviews (SRs) of clinical trials. They can explain the mechanisms by which interventions, evaluated within trials, might achieve their effect. They can investigate differences in effects between different population groups. They can identify which outcomes are most important to patients, carers, health professionals and other stakeholders. QES can explore the impact of acceptance, feasibility, meaningfulness and implementation-related factors within a real world setting and thus contribute to the design and further refinement of future interventions. To produce valid, reliable and meaningful QES requires systematic identification of relevant qualitative evidence. Although the methodologies of QES, including methods for information retrieval, are well-documented, little empirical evidence exists to inform their conduct and reporting. This structured methodological overview examines papers on searching for qualitative research identified from the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group Methodology Register and from citation searches of 15 key papers. A single reviewer reviewed 1299 references. Papers reporting methodological guidance, use of innovative methodologies or empirical studies of retrieval methods were categorised under eight topical headings: overviews and methodological guidance, sampling, sources, structured questions, search procedures, search strategies and filters, supplementary strategies and standards. This structured overview presents a contemporaneous view of information retrieval for qualitative research and identifies a future research agenda. This review concludes that poor empirical evidence underpins current information practice in information retrieval of qualitative research. A trend towards improved transparency of search methods and further evaluation of key search procedures offers the prospect of rapid development of search methods.

/pdf/searching-for-qualitative-research-for-inclusion-in-1qbm72d2k4.pdf

Searching for qualitative research for inclusion in systematic reviews: a structured methodological review

Poor reporting and inadequate searches were apparent in systematic reviews of adverse effects

The aim of the study was to report the results of a systematically conducted literature review of empirical studies about healthcare organizations' ethics and management or leadership issues. Electronic databases MEDLINE and CINAHL yielded 909 citations. After a two stage application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria 56 full-text articles were included in the review. No large research programs were identified. Most of the studies were in acute hospital settings from the 1990s onwards. The studies focused on ethical challenges, dilemmas in practice, employee moral distress and ethical climates or environments. Study samples typically consisted of healthcare practitioners, operational, executive and strategic managers. Data collection was mainly by questionnaires or interviews and most of the studies were descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional. There is need to develop conceptual clarity and a theoretical framework around the subject of organizational ethics and the breadth of the contexts and scope of the research needs to be increased.

Organizational ethics: A literature review

Background:Ethical sensitivity has been identified as a foundational component of ethical action. Diminished or absent ethical sensitivity can result in ethically incongruent care, which is inconsistent with the professional obligations of nursing. As such, assessing ethical sensitivity is imperative in order to design interventions to facilitate ethical practice and to ensure nurses recognize the nature and extent of professional ethical obligations.Aim:To review and critique the state of the science of nurse ethical sensitivity and to synthesize findings across studies.Research design:Whittemore and Knafl’s revised framework for integrative reviews guided the analysis.Research context and data sources:A comprehensive, computer-assisted search of literature published in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PubMed was performed. A systematic approach was used to extract, reduce, and synthesize the data.Findings:Four major conceptualizations of ethical sensitivity emerged from the l...

Nurse ethical sensitivity An integrative review

Ethical elements in priority setting in nursing care: A scoping review.

A nursing qualitative systematic review required MEDLINE and CINAHL for study identification.

Valores y preferencias de los pacientes: asignatura pendiente

EDITOR—Rigg's news item about genetic testing for familial Alzheimer's disease in a Spanish hospital highlights the need to extend the current debate in the Spanish press to the scientific community.1 In spite of its high genetic penetrance, environmental factors can also determine the phenotypic presentation of familial Alzheimer's disease.2 Since the disease is currently incurable and no interventions have been proved to either prevent or delay the onset of the disease, considerations of the quality of life of future patients are paramount.

People who have …

Josep M. García

Papers

A nursing qualitative systematic review required MEDLINE and CINAHL for study identification.

Valores y preferencias de los pacientes: asignatura pendiente

Genetic testing for familial Alzheimer's must be debated.

Limitaciones y subterfugios de la crítica a la medicina basada en la evidencia

Revisiones sistemáticas de la evidencia científica: algunos apuntes prácticos