Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29384077›Full record

ArticleImplementation science : IS2018

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

Claire Glenton, Benedicte Carlsen, Simon Lewin, Heather Munthe-Kaas, Christopher J Colvin, Özge Tunçalp, Meghan A Bohren, Jane Noyes, Andrew Booth, Ruth Garside and 3 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Implementation science : IS, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 134 papers, 62 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
134citing papers in PubMed, 62 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

134 citing papers in PubMed, 62 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  4. Patients' experiences with musculoskeletal spinal pain: a qualitative systematic review.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
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  17. Examining the lived experience of dementia with Lewy bodies through qualitative research: A systematic review.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025
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74 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Claire GlentonNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. claire.glenton@fhi.no.
Benedicte CarlsenUni Research Rokkan Centre, Bergen, Norway.
Simon LewinNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Heather Munthe-KaasNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Christopher J ColvinDivision of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Özge TunçalpUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Meghan A BohrenUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Jane NoyesSchool of Social Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Andrew BoothSchool of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Ruth GarsideEuropean Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
Arash RashidianDepartment of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Signe FlottorpNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Megan WainwrightDivision of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe 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.

methodsWe 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.

resultsWhen 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.

conclusionsThis 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.

Indexed as

Data AccuracyData AnalysisSystematic Reviews as TopicBiomedical ResearchConfidence IntervalsDecision MakingEvidence-Based MedicineHumansPublishingQualitative ResearchConfidenceData adequacyEvidence-based practiceGRADEGuidanceMethodologyQualitative evidence synthesisQualitative researchResearch designSystematic review methodology

Identifiers

PMID29384077
PMCPMC5791045

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.