BMJ 2001;323:765-766 ( 6 October )

Editorials

Qualitative research in systematic reviews

Has established a place for itself

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The recent publication by the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of the second edition of the guidance on undertaking systematic reviews of research on effectiveness deserves to be warmly welcomed, for many reasons.¹ Perhaps chief among these is the increased recognition given to the diverse types of evidence that can contribute to systematic reviews. This suggests that the rigid insistence on controlled trials as the sole source of evidence on effectiveness that characterised the beginnings of the evidence based healthcare movement is fading. Qualitative research is now given explicit consideration in the new guidance. This is consistent with other recent recommendations emphasising the contribution of qualitative evidence to healthcare evaluation.² The argument for giving a place to qualitative research in systematic reviews seems to have been won. There remain several issues, however, that need to be addressed in making the role of qualitative evidence in reviews more systematic.

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Still learning

Annabelle Mark
bmj.com, 5 Oct 2001 [Full text]

Good news

Gareth Lloyd
bmj.com, 5 Oct 2001 [Full text]

Exclusion of qualitative studies shows fundamental incomprehension of appropriate methods

Graham R Williamson
bmj.com, 8 Oct 2001 [Full text]

online copy of Undertaking systematic reviews of research on effectiveness

John Galloway
bmj.com, 10 Oct 2001 [Full text]

Reflections on new methods of integrating different types of evidence in systematic reviews

Jonathan Shepherd
bmj.com, 1 Nov 2001 [Full text]

QUALITY INDICATOR RESEARCH

Khalid Alkhouly, et al.
bmj.com, 22 May 2002 [Full text]