Use of qualitative research in World Health Organisation guidelines: a document analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Guidelines depend on effect estimates, usually derived from randomised controlled trials, to inform their decisions. Qualitative research evidence may improve decisions made but where in the process and the methods to do this have not been so clearly established. We sought to describe and appraise how qualitative research has been used to inform World Heath Organization guidance since 2020.

Methods

We conducted a document analysis of WHO guidelines from 2020 to 2022. We purposely sampled guidelines on the topics of maternal and newborn health (MANH) and infectious diseases, as most of the qualitative synthesis to date has been conducted on these topics, likely representing the 'best case' scenario. We searched the in-built repository feature of the WHO website and

SUBMITTER: Taylor M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10996230 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature