Table 1 The eMERGe meta-ethnography reporting guidance
From: Improving reporting of meta-ethnography: the eMERGe reporting guidance
No. | Criteria Headings | Reporting Criteria |
|---|---|---|
Phase 1—Selecting meta-ethnography and getting started | ||
Introduction | ||
1 | Rationale and context for the meta-ethnography | Describe the gap in research or knowledge to be filled by the meta-ethnography, and the wider context of the meta-ethnography |
2 | Aim(s) of the meta-ethnography | Describe the meta-ethnography aim(s) |
3 | Focus of the meta-ethnography | Describe the meta-ethnography review question(s) (or objectives) |
4 | Rationale for using meta-ethnography | Explain why meta-ethnography was considered the most appropriate qualitative synthesis methodology |
Phase 2—Deciding what is relevant | ||
Methods | ||
5 | Search strategy | Describe the rationale for the literature search strategy |
6 | Search processes | Describe how the literature searching was carried out and by whom |
7 | Selecting primary studies | Describe the process of study screening and selection, and who was involved |
Findings | ||
8 | Outcome of study selection | Describe the results of study searches and screening |
Phase 3—Reading included studies | ||
Methods | ||
9 | Reading and data extraction approach | Describe the reading and data extraction method and processes |
Findings | ||
10 | Presenting characteristics of included studies | Describe characteristics of the included studies |
Phase 4—Determining how studies are related | ||
Methods | ||
11 | Process for determining how studies are related | Describe the methods and processes for determining how the included studies are related: - Which aspects of studies were compared AND - How the studies were compared |
Findings | ||
12 | Outcome of relating studies | Describe how studies relate to each other |
Phase 5—Translating studies into one another | ||
Methods | ||
13 | Process of translating studies | Describe the methods of translation: - Describe steps taken to preserve the context and meaning of the relationships between concepts within and across studies- Describe how the reciprocal and refutational translations were conducted- Describe how potential alternative interpretations or explanations were considered in the translations |
Findings | ||
14 | Outcome of translation | Describe the interpretive findings of the translation. |
Phase 6—Synthesizing translations | ||
Methods | ||
15 | Synthesis process | Describe the methods used to develop overarching concepts (“synthesised translations”)Describe how potential alternative interpretations or explanations were considered in the synthesis |
Findings | ||
16 | Outcome of synthesis process | Describe the new theory, conceptual framework, model, configuration, or interpretation of data developed from the synthesis |
Phase 7—Expressing the synthesis | ||
Discussion | ||
17 | Summary of findings | Summarize the main interpretive findings of the translation and synthesis and compare them to existing literature |
18 | Strengths, limitations, and reflexivity | Reflect on and describe the strengths and limitations of the synthesis: - Methodological aspects—for example, describe how the synthesis findings were influenced by the nature of the included studies and how the meta-ethnography was conducted.- Reflexivity—for example, the impact of the research team on the synthesis findings |
19 | Recommendations and conclusions | Describe the implications of the synthesis |