Table 5 The four components of CERQual [23, 7]
Methodological limitations | The extent to which there are problems in the design or conduct of the primary studies that contributed evidence to a synthesis finding |
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Coherence | The extent to which the synthesis finding is well grounded in data from the contributing primary studies and provides a convincing explanation for the patterns found in the data |
Adequacy of data | An overall determination of the degree of richness and quantity of data supporting a synthesis finding |
Relevance | The extent to which the body of evidence from the primary studies supporting a synthesis findings is applicable to the context (perspective or population, phenomenon of interest, setting) specified in the synthesis question |