Conceptual and Methodological Challenges in Producing Research Syntheses for Decision-and Policy-Making

An Illustrative Case in Primary Healthcare

Bibliographic Data

ID12568073
AuthorsRaynald Pineault (0000-0003-0115-7993, University of Sherbrooke,, corresponding author), Paul A Lamarche (Université de Sherbrooke, corresponding author), Paul Lamarche (University of Sherbrooke,), Marie-Dominique Beaulieu (0000-0002-2372-1797, University of Sherbrooke,, corresponding author), Jeannie Haggerty (0000-0002-2473-3861, University of Sherbrooke,, corresponding author), Danielle Larouche (0000-0003-4900-1832, Université de Montréal, corresponding author), Jean-Marc Jalhay (Université de Montréal, corresponding author), André-Pierre Contandriopoulos (Université de Montréal), André‐pierre Contandriopoulos (Université de Montréal, corresponding author), J L Denis (0000-0003-1295-332X, Université de Montréal, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume16
Issue2
Pages137-152
Publication date2010-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEvaluation (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1356-3890 • E-ISSN: 1461-7153
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1356389009360478
OpenAlexW2111087525
LanguageEN
References cited24

This article presents and discusses five challenges encountered in conducting a knowledge synthesis on primary healthcare, commissioned by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. These challenges are (1) conceptualizing, defining and operationalizing complex interventions; (2) integrating quantitative and qualitative studies and assessing strength of evidence; (3) incorporating expert opinions and decision-makers’ viewpoints; (4) producing timely results; and (5) presenting the results in a concise yet understandable form. We also propose methods and operational tools to deal with these issues, particularly regarding integration of qualitative and quantitative evidence and incorporation of expert opinions into syntheses. The major challenge of the synthesis was to provide pertinent and useful information for decision- and policy-makers, while maintaining an acceptable level of scientific rigour. This approach seems promising for knowledge syntheses, which sustain a deliberative process that leads to more enlightened decision and policy-making

Deliberation · Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Foundation (evidence · Health care · Knowledge management · Management science · Operationalization · Political science · Politics · Process (computing · Process management · Rigour · Viewpoints · Computer Science · Engineering · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Health Policy Implementation Science · Primary Care and Health Outcomes