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. 2018 Jan 25;13(Suppl 1):14.
doi: 10.1186/s13012-017-0692-7.

Applying GRADE-CERQual to qualitative evidence synthesis findings-paper 5: how to assess adequacy of data

Claire Glenton  1 , Benedicte Carlsen  2 , Simon Lewin  3   4 , Heather Munthe-Kaas  3 , Christopher J Colvin  5 , Özge Tunçalp  6 , Meghan A Bohren  6 , Jane Noyes  7 , Andrew Booth  8 , Ruth Garside  9 , Arash Rashidian  10   11 , Signe Flottorp  3 , Megan Wainwright  5
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Applying GRADE-CERQual to qualitative evidence synthesis findings-paper 5: how to assess adequacy of data

Claire Glenton et al. Implement Sci. .

Abstract

Background: The GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) approach has been developed by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) working group. The approach has been developed to support the use of findings from qualitative evidence syntheses in decision-making, including guideline development and policy formulation. CERQual includes four components for assessing how much confidence to place in findings from reviews of qualitative research (also referred to as qualitative evidence syntheses): (1) methodological limitations; (2) coherence; (3) adequacy of data; and (4) relevance. This paper is part of a series providing guidance on how to apply CERQual and focuses on CERQual's adequacy of data component.

Methods: We developed the adequacy of data component by searching the literature for definitions, gathering feedback from relevant research communities and developing consensus through project group meetings. We tested the CERQual adequacy of data component within several qualitative evidence syntheses before agreeing on the current definition and principles for application.

Results: When applying CERQual, we define adequacy of data as an overall determination of the degree of richness and the quantity of data supporting a review finding. In this paper, we describe the adequacy component and its rationale and offer guidance on how to assess data adequacy in the context of a review finding as part of the CERQual approach. This guidance outlines the information required to assess data adequacy, the steps that need to be taken to assess data adequacy, and examples of adequacy assessments.

Conclusions: This paper provides guidance for review authors and others on undertaking an assessment of adequacy in the context of the CERQual approach. We approach assessments of data adequacy in terms of the richness and quantity of the data supporting each review finding, but do not offer fixed rules regarding what constitutes sufficiently rich data or an adequate quantity of data. Instead, we recommend that this assessment is made in relation to the nature of the finding. We expect the CERQual approach, and its individual components, to develop further as our experiences with the practical implementation of the approach increase.

Keywords: Confidence; Data adequacy; Evidence-based practice; GRADE; Guidance; Methodology; Qualitative evidence synthesis; Qualitative research; Research design; Systematic review methodology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable. This study did not undertake any formal data collection involving humans or animals.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of the GRADE-CERQual series of papers
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Steps when assessing adequacy
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Assessing data adequacy in relation to the type of review finding
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Colvin CJ, Garside R, Wainwright M, Lewin S, Bohren M, Glenton C, Munthe-Kaas HM, Carlsen B, Tuncalp Ö, Noyes J, et al. Applying GRADE-CERQual to qualitative evidence synthesis findings—paper 4: how to assess coherence. Implement Sci. 2018;13(Suppl 1): 10.1186/s13012-017-0691-8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Munthe-Kaas HM, Bohren M, Carlsen B, Glenton C, Lewin S, Colvin CJ, Tuncalp Ö, Noyes J, Booth A, Garside R, et al. Applying GRADE-CERQual to qualitative evidence synthesis findings—paper 3: how to assess methodological limitations. Implement Sci. 2018;13(Suppl 1): 10.1186/s13012-017-0690-9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Noyes J, Booth A, Lewin S, Carlsen B, Glenton C, Munthe-Kaas HM, Colvin CJ, Garside R, Bohren M, Rashidian A, et al. Applying GRADE-CERQual to qualitative evidence synthesis findings—paper 6: how to assess relevance of the data. Implement Sci. 2018;13(Suppl 1): 10.1186/s13012-017-0693-6. - PMC - PubMed

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