Introduction to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (In-Person)

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Background

Health care policy and practice decisions should be based on a synthesis of the global body of evidence rather than relying on individual studies. Evidence Synthesis Ireland promotes evidence based healthcare policy and practice by supporting high quality, relevant systematic reviews including the synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Aim

This workshop provides authors, with an interest in learning more about the QES process, with a comprehensive overview of the approaches to and the methods for qualitative evidence synthesis. It offers an insight to the development of a protocol, introducing participants to, search methods, selecting studies, assessing the quality of studies, data extraction and approaches to synthesis.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the basic principles of a qualitative evidence synthesis

• Identify the purpose and scope of a QES

• Understand search methods and apply these methods to a search strategy

• Discuss the criteria for selecting studies

• Assess the quality of studies

• Discuss the principles involved in extracting and synthesising findings from a QES

• Identify the process of application of GRADE-CERQual to QES findings

Date: 22nd February 2027

Time: 09:30 – 16:00

Location: The National University of Ireland, 49 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2

Fee: General Admission €100 / Student €50

Places: 25 available for individuals who are resident on the island of Ireland

Skill Level: Introductory

Target Audience: This is an introductory workshop targeted for Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision makers who are interested in learning about the methodology and processes involved in planning and conducting a QES.

Teaching Strategies: The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, led by members of the ESI teaching faculty covering each of the stages of developing a QES, small group activities based around worked examples and exercises and plenary discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to discuss and develop their understanding of the QES process.

Facilitators: 

Dr Linda Biesty is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Evidence Science, University of Galway, and Deputy Director of Evidence Synthesis Ireland

Prof. Pauline Meskell is Professor of Research at the University of Limerick, a member of the ESI Executive Management Committee and an ESI Research Associate

*If your type of ticket is sold out, please join the waitlist or contact us at esi@universityofgalway.ie