Qualitative metasynthesis: Making the evidence more accessible

ABSTRACT

This paper will discuss qualitative metasynthesis as an important method for integrating and synthesizing qualitative research findings for evidence-based healthcare.The emergence of qualitative metasynthesis will be described and it will be differentiated from metastudy and meta-analysis. Differing approaches to metasynthesis will be briefly discussed and Sandelowski and Barroso's steps for undertaking qualitative metasynthesis will be described. The paper will discuss processes applicable for ensuring the trustworthiness and the subsequent generalizability of the findings from a metasynthesis.