| Phase 1: selecting meta-ethnography and getting started |
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| Introduction |
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| 1 | Rationale and context for the meta-ethnography | Describe the gap in research or knowledge to be filled by the meta-ethnography, and the wider context of the meta-ethnography |
| 2 | Aim(s) of the meta-ethnography | Describe the meta-ethnography aim(s) |
| 3 | Focus of the meta-ethnography | Describe the meta-ethnography question(s) (or objectives) |
| 4 | Rationale for using meta-ethnography | Explain why meta-ethnography was considered the most appropriate qualitative synthesis methodology |
| Phase 2: deciding what is relevant |
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| Methods |
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| 5 | Search strategy | Describe the rationale for the literature search strategy |
| 6 | Search processes | Describe how the literature searching was carried out and by whom |
| 7 | Selecting primary studies | Describe the process of study screening and selection, and who was involved |
| Findings |
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| 8 | Outcome of study selection | Describe the results of study searches and screening |
| Phase 3: reading included studies |
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| Methods |
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| 9 | Reading and data extraction approach | Describe the reading and data extraction method and processes |
| Findings |
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| 10 | Presenting characteristics of included studies | Describe characteristics of the included studies |
| Phase 4: determining how studies are related |
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| Methods |
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| 11 | Process for determining how studies are related |
Describe the methods and processes for determining how the included studies are related:
Which aspects of studies were compared
AND
How the studies were compared
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| Findings |
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| 12 | Outcome of relating studies | Describe how studies relate to each other |
| Phase 5: translating studies into one another |
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| Methods |
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| 13 | Process of translating studies | Describe the methods of translation:Describe steps taken to preserve the context and meaning of the relationships between concepts within and across studies Describe how the reciprocal and refutational translations were conducted Describe how potential alternative interpretations or explanations were considered in the translations
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| Findings |
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| 14 | Outcome of translation | Describe the interpretive findings of the translation |
| Phase 6: synthesising translations |
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| Methods |
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| 15 | Synthesis process |
Describe the methods used to develop overarching concepts (‘synthesised translations’)
Describe how potential alternative interpretations or explanations were considered in the synthesis
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| Findings |
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| 16 | Outcome of synthesis process | Describe the new theory, conceptual framework, model, configuration or interpretation of data developed from the synthesis |
| Phase 7: expressing the synthesis |
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| Discussion |
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| 17 | Summary of findings | Summarise the main interpretive findings of the translation and synthesis and compare them to existing literature |
| 18 | Strengths, limitations and reflexivity | Reflect on and describe the strengths and limitations of the synthesis:Methodological aspects – e.g. describe how the synthesis findings were influenced by the nature of the included studies and how the meta-ethnography was conducted Reflexivity – e.g. the impact of the research team on the synthesis findings
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| 19 | Recommendations and conclusions | Describe the implications of the synthesis |
