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Methods
 Narrative reviews
Jong-Myon Bae
Epidemiol Health 2014;36:e2014018.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2014018
Published online: September 11, 2014

Department of Preventive Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea

Correspondence: Jong-Myon Bae  Department of Preventive Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, 102 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju 690-756, Korea  Tel: +82-64-755-5567, Fax: +82-64-725-2593, E-mail: jmbae@jejunu.ac.kr
• Received: September 3, 2014   • Accepted: September 11, 2014

©2014, Korean Society of Epidemiology

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • Although qualitative researches (QR) are invaluable in understanding complex healthcare situations, the quantitative systematic reviews could not treat them. To improve quality of healthcare services, results of QR should be considered in healthcare decision-making processes. Several methods and theories for synthesizing evidences of QR have been developed. In order to activate the narrative reviews and mixed methods reviews in Korean healthcare academies, I arranged the related nomenclatures and suggested some issues to conduct them.
  • Keywords: Review literature as topic, Qualitative research, Qualitative evaluation, Meta-analysis as topic, Evidence-based practice
In providing healthcare services, the evidence-based medicine (EBM) paradigm [1-3]—the idea that healthcare-related decisions should be made on the basis of the best evidence—is expanding to healthcare-related policy-making in nursing and health science as well as medicine [4-6]. Amidst this trend, quantitative systematic reviews is a new research approach. It is a term used to designate the approach to examining the effects of a treatment or an intervention adopting a statistical method called meta-analysis [7]. However, the results of qualitative research which cannot obtain quantitative outcomes, such as relative risk, odds ratio, and number needed to treat (NNT), tend to be ignored or excluded in the application of the systematic reviews process [8].
Not only the definition of qualitative research, but also the characteristic comparisons between qualitative and quantitative research are well documented in the papers by Murphy et al. [9] and Draper [10]. In short, qualitative research can be a useful guide for understanding complicated situations in the real world and can serve as groundwork for new hypotheses [11-15]. Consequently, efforts to use the synthesis of qualitative research results as the grounds for decision-making were already underway in 1990s when EBM emerged [16-23]. However, recently, in line with the trend toward improving medical treatment quality through patient-centered and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic services [24,25], efforts for complementary utilization of qualitative research results are experiencing a revival [13, 15,26-34]. In particular, the claim that both quantitative and qualitative research should be utilized for proper understanding of overall healthcare problems is gaining influence. [18,35,36].
Meanwhile, because the synthesis of qualitative research results is inevitably different from a quantitative systematic reviews, there have been many attempts to overcome this gap [8, 37-40]. For this reason, I would like to systemize the attempts to synthesize qualitative research results undertaken so far. This work is expected to show the framework of the discussions related to qualitative research and lay a cornerstone for the vitalization of systematic reviews on qualitative research in South Korea.
Terms related to the synthesis of qualitative research
Among the theories about qualitative research presented so far, works of Draper [10], Barnett-Page & Thomas [41], Dixon-Woods et al. [42], and Thorne et al. [43] may be representative. I arranged various terms related to qualitative research, grouping them according to the emphasis intended.Appendix 1 is the overview of the healthcare research applying this nomenclature. At a glance, we can see many terms are suggested with the emphasis placed on the meaning of the term “synthesis” of qualitative research results in contrast to the application of the meta-analytic statistical method of quantitative research results. In particular, we can see the term “mixed methods research” has often been applied recently in the attempt to include both quantitative and qualitative research [44].
Process of synthesis of qualitative research
As can be seen in Appendix 1, the high number of related terms implies that the establishment of the relevant research methodology is a difficult task [45]. Sinuff et al. [46] shows the difference between quantitative and qualitative research processes in a diagram. However, a look at the suggested processes in relation to qualitative research synthesis [34,45,47-54] reveals that they stick to the big frame of “Ask - Acquire - Appraise - Apply - Assess,” 5A of the evidence cycle, although they show a certain diversity [55].
Searches of qualitative research to collect a body of related literature are more difficult than quantitative research [56-58]. This is because of different database services and the need to search for gray literature that has been issued but not officially published and made available in market, such as reports published by institutions or academic narrative reports [8]. It is also attributable to the need to resort, in addition to securing lists through search formulae, to hand searching which involves bibliography browsing in search of related papers and snowballing searching which traces one paper after another in chronological order [14,59].
Because of the diversity of research methods and fields of application, qualitative research does not easily lend itself to standardizing the items of qualitative evaluation in the literature of interest [8,59-64]. Nevertheless, the following achievements harvested so far deserve to be listed: (1) Thomas et al. [65] suggested evaluation items which matched quantitative-qualitative research. (2) Clark [66] developed ‘RATS’ evaluation tool, which is an acronym for Relevance, Appropriateness, Transparency, and Soundness. (3) Daly et al. [67] suggested a stratified structure by the contents of qualitative research. (4) Rodgers et al. [34] applied the EPPI approach that evaluates the persuasive power of evidence. And (5) Dixon-Woods et al. [68] suggested a tool called CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool) which is composed of 10 items.
For the synthesis of evaluation results, a best fit frameworks is established [65,69-73] or a simulations model is selected [74]. The commercial program called NVivo has been developed [52, 75,76]. Feasibility research examining the applicability of this program in Korean society needs to be accumulated.
Also, a reporting guideline named RAMESES (Realist And MEta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards) has been developed for application when the research results of systematic reviews of qualitative research are to be reported in papers [77,78]. Making a flow chart is also suggested in cases where the mixed methods reviews approach is adopted which involves both quantitative and qualitative research [79,80].
There are few systematic reviews on qualitative research in healthcare-related scholarship in South Korea. For the qualitative improvement of healthcare in this scarce situation, research in various healthcare fields should be conducted. Therefore, I suggest three things as below.
First, establishing the nomenclature of systematic reviews on qualitative research is an urgent task, because systematic and coherent use of well-established terms is important when a multitude of suggested terms are in use, as shown in Appendix 1. The synthesis of quantitative research through the meta-analytic statistical method can be termed ‘quantitative systematic reviews’ and that of qualitative research, ‘qualitative systematic reviews’ [81]. However, given the current situation that systematic reviews have been established as the major research methodology of the synthesis of the evidences of quantitative research and the meta-analysis applied to this is recognized as statistical methodology [81], systematic reviews in the narrow sense mean quantitative systematic reviews [82]. On the contrary, qualitative systematic reviews is also called narrative systematic reviews and recently in a more abbreviated form called “narrative reviews” [29,83-85]. However, the term ‘meta-narrative reviews’ [77,78] does not fit and its use should be avoided because the meta-analysis corresponding to this is a statistical method, not a research method [81]. Therefore, I suggest a terminological differentiation between (quantitative) systematic reviews and (qualitative) narrative reviews, whereby the term “mixed methods reviews” may be used when both quantitative and qualitative research are involved. It was in consideration of this point that I titled this study “Narrative Reviews.”
Second, the practical way to revitalize narrative reviews research when Korean researchers do not have much experience conducting narrative reviews is the critical reading of good research cases from various academic fields and their application to practical use. To facilitate this process, I organized useful research cases by academic field and presented them in Appendix 2.
Third, there is a need to establish a research-supporting organization and expand research human resources for qualitative research in the process of planning and conducting clinical studies [15]. The basic prior condition of proper narrative reviews is good results from qualitative research. First and foremost, given the fact that multidisciplinary cooperation is of vital importance for qualitative research, an organizational reshuffling appears necessary to facilitate efficient cooperation.
This study was conducted by a 2014 academic promotion research funding project grant of Jeju National University.

The author has no conflicts of interest to declare for this study.

Supplementary material is available at http://www.e-epih.org/.
epih-36-e2014018-supplementary.pdf
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Appendix 1.
Summary tables of nomenclatures about methodologies for synthesis of qualitative researches
To Nomenclatures [References]
Emphasize qualitative synthesis Narrative summary [A01, A02]
Thematic synthesis [A03]
Textual narrative synthesis [A04]
Critical interpretive synthesis [A05, A06]
Framework synthesis [A07]
Realist synthesis [A08, A09]
Contrast quantitative systematic review Qualitative systematic review [A10,A11]
Synthesis of qualitative research [A12]
Narrative systematic review [A13]
Qualitative comparative analysis [A14, A15]
Qualitative meta-synthesis [A16]
Qualitative meta-summary [A17]
Contrast meta-analysis Meta-synthesis [A18, A19]
Meta-narrative review [A20, A21]
Meta-ethnography [A22, A23]
Meta-study [A24]
Meta-interpretation [A25]
Include quantitative & qualitative researches Mixed methods research [A26-A29]
Ecological triangulation [A01]
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  • A27. Flemming K. The knowledge base for evidence-based nursing: a role for mixed methods research? ANS Adv Nurs Sci 2007;30:41-51.ArticlePubMed
  • A28. Sandelowski M, Voils CI, Leeman J, Crandell JL. Mapping the mixed methods-mixed research synthesis terrain. J Mix Methods Res 2012;6:317-331.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • A29. Seymour J. Combined qualitative and quantitative research designs. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2012;6:514-524.ArticlePubMed
Appendix 2.
Some articles related to qualitative researches about health care services
Domain [References]
Preventive medicine Pharmacoepidemiology [B01, B02]
Occupation [B03]
Hospital management [B04]
Clinical medicine Obstetrics [B05]
Hospice [B06]
Patient-doctor relationship [B07]
Nurse Diabetic care [B08, B09]
Insight into cancer [B10]
Health promotion Mental health [B11]
School health [B12-B15]
Health program [B16-B20]
Vaccine program [B21]
Health policy Policy decision [B22]
Control plan of tuberculosis [B23]
  • B01. Pound P, Britten N, Morgan M, Yardley L, Pope C, Daker-White G, et al. Resisting medicines: a synthesis of qualitative studies of medicine taking. Soc Sci Med 2005;61:133-155.ArticlePubMed
  • B02. Teasdale E, Santer M, Geraghty AW, Little P, Yardley L. Public perceptions of non-pharmaceutical interventions for reducing transmission of respiratory infection: systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies. BMC Public Health 2014;14:589.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B03. Ruggiero JS, Redeker NS. Effects of napping on sleepiness and sleep-related performance deficits in night-shift workers: a systematic review. Biol Res Nurs 2014;16:134-142.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B04. Mousazadeh Y, Jannati A, Jabbari Beiramy H, Asgharijafarabadi M, Ebadi A. Advantages and disadvantages of different methods of hospitals’ downsizing: a narrative systematic review. Health Promot Perspect 2013;3:276-287.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B05. Boath E, Bradley E, Henshaw C. The prevention of postnatal depression: a narrative systematic review. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2005;26:185-192.ArticlePubMed
  • B06. Flemming K. The use of morphine to treat cancer-related pain: a synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research. J Pain Symptom Manage 2010;39:139-154.ArticlePubMed
  • B07. Santer M, Ring N, Yardley L, Geraghty AW, Wyke S. Treatment non-adherence in pediatric long-term medical conditions: systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies of caregivers' views. BMC Pediatr 2014;14:63.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B08. Davidson MB. The effectiveness of nurse- and pharmacist-directed care in diabetes disease management: a narrative review. Curr Diabetes Rev 2007;3:280-286.ArticlePubMed
  • B09. Davidson MB. Detailed treatment algorithms for effective nurse- and pharmacist-directed diabetes care: a personal approach. Diabetes Educ 2009;35:61-71.ArticlePubMed
  • B10. Jayde V, White K, Blomfield P. Symptoms and diagnostic delay in ovarian cancer: a summary of the literature. Contemp Nurse 2009;34:55-65.ArticlePubMed
  • B11. Leamy M, Bird V, Le Boutillier C, Williams J, Slade M. Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health: systematic review and narrative synthesis. Br J Psychiatry 2011;199:445-452.ArticlePubMed
  • B12. Thomas J, Harden A, Oakley A, Oliver S, Sutcliffe K, Rees R, et al. Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews. BMJ 2004;328:1010-1012.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B13. Harden A, Brunton G, Fletcher A, Oakley A. Teenage pregnancy and social disadvantage: systematic review integrating controlled trials and qualitative studies. BMJ 2009;339:b4254.Article
  • B14. Bonell C, Harden A, Wells H, Jamal F, Fletcher A, Petticrew M, et al. Protocol for a systematic review of the effects of schools and school-environment interventions on health: evidence mapping and syntheses. BMC Public Health 2011;11:453.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B15. Jamal F, Fletcher A, Harden A, Wells H, Thomas J, Bonell C. The school environment and student health: a systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative research. BMC Public Health 2013;13:798.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B16. Liu J, Davidson E, Bhopal R, White M, Johnson M, Netto G, et al. Adapting health promotion interventions to meet the needs of ethnic minority groups: mixed-methods evidence synthesis. Health Technol Assess 2012;16:1-469.Article
  • B17. Neville LM, O'Hara B, Milat A. Computer-tailored physical activity behavior change interventions targeting adults: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2009;6:30.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B18. Neville LM, Milat AJ, O'Hara B. Computer-tailored weight reduction interventions targeting adults: a narrative systematic review. Health Promot J Austr 2009;20:48-57.ArticlePubMed
  • B19. Neville LM, O'Hara B, Milat AJ. Computer-tailored dietary behaviour change interventions: a systematic review. Health Educ Res 2009;24:699-720.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B20. Thomas R, Perera R. School-based programmes for preventing smoking. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006;(3):CD001293.Article
  • B21. Mills E, Jadad AR, Ross C, Wilson K. Systematic review of qualitative studies exploring parental beliefs and attitudes toward childhood vaccination identifies common barriers to vaccination. J Clin Epidemiol 2005;58:1081-1088.ArticlePubMed
  • B22. Contandriopoulos D, Lemire M, Denis JL, Tremblay E. Knowledge exchange processes in organizations and policy arenas: a narrative systematic review of the literature. Milbank Q 2010;88:444-483.ArticlePubMedPMC
  • B23. Noyes J, Popay J. Directly observed therapy and tuberculosis: how can a systematic review of qualitative research contribute to improving services? A qualitative meta-synthesis. J Adv Nurs 2007;57:227-243.ArticlePubMed

Figure & Data

References

    Citations

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    Narrative reviews
    Narrative reviews
    To Nomenclatures [References]
    Emphasize qualitative synthesis Narrative summary [A01, A02]
    Thematic synthesis [A03]
    Textual narrative synthesis [A04]
    Critical interpretive synthesis [A05, A06]
    Framework synthesis [A07]
    Realist synthesis [A08, A09]
    Contrast quantitative systematic review Qualitative systematic review [A10,A11]
    Synthesis of qualitative research [A12]
    Narrative systematic review [A13]
    Qualitative comparative analysis [A14, A15]
    Qualitative meta-synthesis [A16]
    Qualitative meta-summary [A17]
    Contrast meta-analysis Meta-synthesis [A18, A19]
    Meta-narrative review [A20, A21]
    Meta-ethnography [A22, A23]
    Meta-study [A24]
    Meta-interpretation [A25]
    Include quantitative & qualitative researches Mixed methods research [A26-A29]
    Ecological triangulation [A01]
    Domain [References]
    Preventive medicine Pharmacoepidemiology [B01, B02]
    Occupation [B03]
    Hospital management [B04]
    Clinical medicine Obstetrics [B05]
    Hospice [B06]
    Patient-doctor relationship [B07]
    Nurse Diabetic care [B08, B09]
    Insight into cancer [B10]
    Health promotion Mental health [B11]
    School health [B12-B15]
    Health program [B16-B20]
    Vaccine program [B21]
    Health policy Policy decision [B22]
    Control plan of tuberculosis [B23]

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