Qualitative research in healthcare: reflections on critical appraisal

The lead author of a new qualitative systematic review, ‘Pregnant and postnatal women’s experiences of interacting with health care providers about their tobacco smoking', reflects on the process of critical appraisal for qualitative research.

In editorial, 'Reflections on critical appraisal of research for qualitative evidence synthesis', the author, Sandra Small, notes that because the goal of qualitative synthesis in health-related research is to inform healthcare practice or policy, low-quality studies should be excluded. However, despite this recommendation, many reviewers include all eligible studies in their reviews, regardless of quality assessment.

Reasons provided for this approach include the value of participant voices, the potential insights from both high and low-quality studies, limited availability of relevant studies, and reporting limitations.

“Critical appraisal of qualitative research is complex, and additional guidance on essential criteria could enhance consistency in study inclusion decisions based on quality assessments”, writes Small.

“Methodological work is needed to establish whether there are critical appraisal criteria that may be deemed to be essential to study rigor. Additional guidance for authors can promote consistent and informed decision-making in qualitative research synthesis.”

Read the editorial in full:

Reflections on critical appraisal of research for qualitative evidence synthesis

Small, Sandra P.

JBI Evidence Synthesis. 21(6):1064-1065, June 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-23-00198

The qualitative systematic review the author refers to:

Pregnant and postnatal women’s experiences of interacting with health care providers about their tobacco smoking

Small, Sandra P.; Maddigan, Joy; Swab, Michelle; Jarvis, Kimberly Less | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES- 22-00052