Synthesizing evidence on complex interventions: how meta-analytical, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches can contribute

Mark Petticrew, Eva Rehfuess, Jane Noyes, Julian P T Higgins, Alain Mayhew, Tomas Pantoja, Ian Shemilt, Amanda Sowden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Although there is increasing interest in the evaluation of complex interventions, there is little guidance on how evidence from complex interventions may be reviewed and synthesized, and the relevance of the plethora of evidence synthesis methods to complexity is unclear. This article aims to explore how different meta-analytical approaches can be used to examine aspects of complexity; describe the contribution of various narrative, tabular, and graphical approaches to synthesis; and give an overview of the potential choice of selected qualitative and mixed-method evidence synthesis approaches.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1230-1243
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume66
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Aug 2013

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Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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