Improving reporting of meta-ethnography

The eMerge reporting guidance

Bibliographic Data

ID23325805
AuthorsEmma F France (0000-0003-0876-7030, University of Stirling, corresponding author), Maggie Cunningham (University of Stirling), N Ring (0000-0001-6367-7316, Edinburgh Napier University), Isabelle Uny (0000-0002-9548-5332, University of Stirling), Edward Duncan (0000-0002-3400-905X, University of Stirling), Edward A S Duncan, Ruth Jepson (0000-0002-9446-445X, University of Edinburgh), Ruth G Jepson, Morgan Maxwell (0000-0003-3318-9500, University of Stirling), Margaret Maxwell, Rachel J Roberts (0000-0002-7425-2150, University of Stirling), Ruth Turley (0000-0001-8556-7855, Cardiff University), Ruth L Turley, Andrew Booth (0000-0003-4808-3880, University of Sheffield), Nicky Britten (0000-0002-7533-414X, University of Exeter), Kate Flemming (0000-0002-0795-8516, University of York), Ian Gallagher (University of Stirling), Ruth Garside (0000-0003-1649-4773, University of Exeter), Karin Hannes (0000-0002-5011-3615, KU Leuven), Simon Lewin (0000-0001-7521-9515, South African Medical Research Council), George W Noblit (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Catherine Pope (0000-0002-8935-6702, University of Southampton), James Thomas (0000-0003-4805-4190), Meredith Vanstone (0000-0002-7347-6259, McMaster University), G Higginbottom (0000-0001-8851-0985, University of Nottingham), Gina M A Higginbottom, Jane Noyes (0000-0003-4238-5984, Bangor University)
Year2019
Volume19
Issue1
Pages25-25
Publication date2019-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Medical Research Methodology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2288 • E-ISSN: 1471-2288
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s12874-018-0600-0
PMID30709371
OpenAlexW2895713118
LanguageEN
Citations received75
References cited48

AIMS: The aim of this study was to provide guidance to improve the completeness and clarity of meta-ethnography reporting. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based policy and practice require robust evidence syntheses which can further understanding of people's experiences and associated social processes. Meta-ethnography is a rigorous seven-phase qualitative evidence synthesis methodology, developed by Noblit and Hare. Meta-ethnography is used widely in health research, but reporting is often poor quality and this discourages trust in and use of its findings. Meta-ethnography reporting guidance is needed to improve reporting quality. DESIGN: The eMERGe study used a rigorous mixed-methods design and evidence-based methods to develop the novel reporting guidance and explanatory notes. METHODS: The study, conducted from 2015 to 2017, comprised of: (1) a methodological systematic review of guidance for meta-ethnography conduct and reporting; (2) a review and audit of published meta-ethnographies to identify good practice principles; (3) international, multidisciplinary consensus-building processes to agree guidance content; (4) innovative development of the guidance and explanatory notes. FINDINGS: Recommendations and good practice for all seven phases of meta-ethnography conduct and reporting were newly identified leading to 19 reporting criteria and accompanying detailed guidance. CONCLUSION: The bespoke eMERGe Reporting Guidance, which incorporates new methodological developments and advances the methodology, can help researchers to report the important aspects of meta-ethnography. Use of the guidance should raise reporting quality. Better reporting could make assessments of confidence in the findings more robust and increase use of meta-ethnography outputs to improve practice, policy, and service user outcomes in health and other fields. This is the first tailored reporting guideline for meta-ethnography. This article is being simultaneously published in the following journals: Journal of Advanced Nursing, Psycho-oncology, Review of Education, and BMC Medical Research Methodology.

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