Table 1 Questions to guide whether, when and how to update a meta-ethnography
From: Why, when and how to update a meta-ethnography qualitative synthesis
Guiding questions | Issues to consider | This is a consideration in deciding | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Whether to update | When to update | How to update | ||
Q1. What was the aim of the original meta-ethnography (and is it time-sensitive)? | If data are out-of-date, then an update might be needed. If the aim was tied to a specific time period in the past, the original findings may not be relevant to current practice. The aim may have implications for how to update, given the original search strategy. | ✓ | ✓ | |
Q2. What is the aim of the updated meta-ethnography? | The original and updated search strategies must be compatible with the update aim. | ✓ | ||
Q3. What is the publication rate of relevant new studies? | A high volume of publications could warrant an update and influence how the update is done (see also Q6). | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Q4. What is the quality of the (conduct and reporting) of the original meta-ethnography? | If it is low quality: • an update could increase the trustworthiness and hence utility of the findings • the value of adding to or comparing with the original findings is questionable • in terms of timing it could be re-done immediately. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Q5. Have there been methodological advances in qualitative reviewing and/or the meta-ethnography approach? | If yes, an update could increase the trustworthiness and hence utility of the findings. In terms of timing, it could be re-done immediately (see also Q6). | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Q6. Was conceptual saturation achieved in the original meta-ethnography? | If yes, inclusion of further relevant studies is unlikely to add insights unless they contain new data on experiences (see Q7). | ✓ | ||
Q7. Are there (publications on) new patient populations, health care contexts, treatments and/or interventions since the original meta-ethnography? | If yes, an update could be useful because people’s experiences might differ from those already reported. Could require a revised review question and literature search strategy. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Q8. Does the review question need to be revised? | If answer to Q7 is “yes”, then it may be necessary to revise the review question, literature search strategy and inclusion criteria, e.g. to include a new patient population. | ✓ | ✓ | |
Q9. What are the potential consequences of not updating the original meta-ethnography? | If findings are out-of-date but being applied in current policy/practice, the findings may not be useful or may even be harmful. | ✓ | ||