CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF A QUALITATIVE REVIEW: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: This review explores the structure, content, and objectives of most widely used appraisal tools available for qualitative reviews.

Materials and Methods: This literature search utilizes the practice as proposed by Haig and Dozier in BEME guide no. 3; finding the literature through databases, hand searching. grey literature and Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis checklist 2020 (PRISMA) was used in the process of filtering articles for literature review. After defining key terms, both clinical and educational databases; MEDLINE/PubMed (2014–2024) and ERIC (2014–2024), were searched in the subjects of education and medicine. Grey literature was searched through Google Scholar. Other search strategies included ancestry searching and forward tracing and seeking expert advice. The inclusion criteria for studies was Tools published between 2014 and 2024 in English language, Reports of appraisal tools along with reports about appraisal tools in health-related discipline, published in a peer-review journal, and tools with clear criteria. Comparative analysis for characteristics of six appraisal tools, which were frequently used in the reports for qualitative appraisal, was performed.

Results: The characteristics of the study showed that each tool has different strengths and limitations which are mentioned in the form of percentages for each of them.

Conclusion: In this study characteristics of six qualitative appraisal tools were reviewed and came up to the conclusion that rationale of the evidence preparation, the researcher’s proficiency, and allocated time along with resources which dictate decision to choose an appraisal tool for QES.