Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research in Pharmacy Practice

The technique of meta-synthesis has emerged to enhance the understanding of and generate new knowledge from available qualitative research in health care. The purpose of meta-synthesis is to identify and sum up the key themes from a selected qualitative literature with the aim of synthesizing new knowledge. It uses a systematic style to infer general themes or reviewer's interpretation from primary studies about the topic of interest. The approach of meta-synthesis is in its infancy in pharmacy practice qualitative research. There are several recommended meta-synthesis methods and approaches. This chapter aims to provide an outline of the process of meta-synthesis of qualitative studies in pharmacy practice. It begins with an overview of meta-synthesis research and its relevance in pharmacy practice followed by a step-by-step guide to conduct a meta-synthesis with examples. The stages include framing a clear research question/objective, strategizing the literature search, defining and refining the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and synthesizing the research findings.