Adding value to core outcome set development using multi-method systematic reviews
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Brunton, Ginny
Webbe, James
Oliver, Sandy
Gale, Chris
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Trials evaluating the same interventions rarely measure or report identical outcomes. This limits the possibility of aggregating effect sizes across studies to generate high quality evidence through systematic reviews and meta-analyses. To address this problem, Core Outcome Sets (COS) establish agreed sets of outcomes to be used in all future trials. When developing COS, potential outcome domains are identified by systematically reviewing the outcomes of trials, and increasingly, through primary qualitative research exploring the experiences of key stakeholders, with relevant outcome domains subsequently determined through transdisciplinary consensus development. However, the primary qualitative component can be time consuming with unclear impact. We aimed to examine the potential added value of a qualitative systematic review alongside a quantitative systematic review of trial outcomes to inform COS development in neonatal care using case analysis methods.We compared the methods and findings of a scoping review of neonatal trial outcomes and a scoping review of qualitative research on parents', patients' and professional caregivers' perspectives of neonatal care. Together, these identified a wider range and greater depth of health and social outcome domains, some unique to each review, which were incorporated into the subsequent Delphi process and informed the final set of core outcome domains. Qualitative scoping reviews of participant perspectives research, used in conjunction with quantitative scoping reviews of trials, could identify more outcome domains for consideration and could provide greater depth of understanding to inform stakeholder group discussion in COS development. This is an innovation in the application of research synthesis methods. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Date Issued
2020-03
Date Acceptance
2019-12-04
Citation
Research Synthesis Methods, 2020, 11 (2), pp.248-259
ISSN
1759-2879
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
248
End Page
259
Journal / Book Title
Research Synthesis Methods
Volume
11
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
Medical Research Council
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31834675
Grant Number
MR/N008405/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
EXTREMELY PRETERM INFANTS
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
CONTROLLED-TRIALS
CLINICAL-TRIALS
QUALITY
FRAMEWORK
THERAPY
MOTHERS
STRESS
0104 Statistics
1117 Public Health and Health Services
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2019-12-13