Qualitative synthesis: A guide to conducting a meta-ethnography

Introduction: Qualitative meta-synthesis draws together data from multiple studies and can enrich understandings of client experiences and inform health policy. Meta-ethnography is the most commonly utilised qualitative synthesis approach in healthcare; however, there is variation in the conduct and quality of many published meta-ethnographies. This paper aims to guide occupational therapists on the process of completing a meta-ethnography. Method: A systematic search of articles published from 1986–2016 was conducted. Studies which described an evaluation or critique of meta-ethnography as a research method, and consequently provided reflections or guidance on the method, were included. Two authors independently screened papers and nine relevant papers and one key text were identified. Two authors independently extracted data from identified sources. Results: The seven stages of meta-ethnography described by Noblit and Hare (1988) are presented and integrated with key advancements from subsequent publications. Stages include starting the meta-synthesis, consideration of relevant studies, reading the studies and deciding on how they should be put together, translating the studies into one another, synthesising translations and expressing the synthesis. Conclusion: Given the proliferation of qualitative methods in occupational therapy research, rigorous use of meta-ethnography has great potential to contribute to the research evidence base.