3.2.2 Qualitative evidence synthesis

Qualitative evidence synthesis is the umbrella term for reviews that bring together qualitative research in a systematic way (Flemming & Noyes 2021). The purpose of qualitative evidence synthesis is to provide a more detailed understanding of a specific phenomenon, social process, context or experience. There are a wide range of approaches to qualitative evidence synthesis, including meta-aggregation, meta-ethnography, realist synthesis, framework synthesis and more (Booth et al. 2018; Flemming & Noyes 2021). These approaches have a shared purpose—to aggregate, integrate and/or interpret qualitative findings from different studies using a transparent and systematic method (Sandelowski, Barroso & Voils 2007). The steps in the individual approaches vary, as does the degree of interpretation and accompanying contribution to practice and/or theory. The JBI approach to qualitative evidence synthesis is meta-aggregation.