Abstract

A meta-synthesis of qualitative health research is a structured approach to analyzing primary data across the findings sections of published peer-reviewed papers reporting qualitative research. A meta-synthesis of qualitative research provides evidence for health care and service decision-making to inform improvements in both policy and practice. This chapter will provide an outline of the purpose of the meta-synthesis of qualitative health research, a historical overview, and insights into the value of knowledge generated from this approach. Reflective activities and references to examples from the literature will enable readers to:Summarize methodological approaches that can be applied to the analysis of qualitative research.Define the scope of and review question for a meta-synthesis of qualitative research.Undertake a systematic literature search using standard tools and frameworks.Examine critical appraisal tools for assessing the quality of research papers.