The Impact of Evidence-Based Medicine on Qualitative Metasynthesis: Benefits to be Harvested and Warnings to be Given

Abstract

Qualitative metasynthesis, developed as an interpretative and inductive methodology, is increasingly influenced by standards from evidence-based medicine, established as a strategy to support policy decisions and guidelines. Currently, principles and procedures from the format developed for systematic reviews are often applied for review and synthesis of all kinds of evidence, including results from qualitative studies. In this article, I substantiate these claims, discussing benefits to be harvested and warnings to be given when qualitative metasynthesis approaches the evidence-based medicine methodology. Situating my exploration in the context of clinical practice, I contrast missions and values of these methodologies regarding review and synthesis of research literature, highlighting potential mismatches between ontology and epistemology, emphasizing challenges regarding sample, analysis, and transferability. Approving systematic and transparent strategies as generic for such purposes, I warn against the idea that methodology developed for evidence-based medicine is a universal gold standard for synthesis of research evidence.