RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Formulating questions to explore complex interventions within qualitative evidence synthesis
JF BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e001107
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001107
VO 4
IS Suppl 1
A1 Booth, Andrew
A1 Noyes, Jane
A1 Flemming, Kate
A1 Moore, Graham
A1 Tunçalp, Özge
A1 Shakibazadeh, Elham
YR 2019
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/4/Suppl_1/e001107.abstract
AB When making decisions about complex interventions, guideline development groups need to factor in the sociocultural acceptability of an intervention, as well as contextual factors that impact on the feasibility of that intervention. Qualitative evidence synthesis offers one method of exploring these issues. This paper considers the extent to which current methods of question formulation are meeting this challenge. It builds on a rapid review of 38 different frameworks for formulating questions. To be useful, a question framework should recognise context (as setting, environment or context); acknowledge the criticality of different stakeholder perspectives (differentiated from the target population); accommodate elements of time/timing and place; be sensitive to qualitative data (eg, eliciting themes or findings). None of the identified frameworks satisfied all four of these criteria. An innovative question framework, PerSPEcTiF, is proposed and retrospectively applied to a published WHO guideline for a complex intervention. Further testing and evaluation of the PerSPEcTiF framework is required.