The historical emergence of qualitative synthesis

Abstract

Evidence for practice has increasingly influenced and contributed to the improvement of health care over the past few decades. While evidence for practice appears to be an integral component to decision making in health care practice, it has historically been dominated by the results of quantitative research. This book reviews the degree to which qualitative research, specifically qualitative systematic review, is valued within the domain of evidence-based practice by examining and exploring contemporary debates on the nature of evidence and the place of qualitative research findings in evidence based health care.