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Qualitative and Comparative Cortical Activity Data Analyses from a Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Experiment Applying Block Design
Published on: December 3, 2020
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Using qualitative comparative analysis in a systematic review of a complex intervention.
Leila Kahwati1, Sara Jacobs2, Heather Kane2
1RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA. lkahwati@rti.org.
Systematic Reviews
|May 23, 2016
Summary
Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) effectively synthesized complex intervention data in a systematic review, identifying key behavior change techniques (BCTs) and implementation features for improved medication adherence. This method offers valuable insights beyond traditional synthesis approaches.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Evidence Synthesis
- Methodology
Background:
- Systematic reviews of complex interventions face challenges due to heterogeneity in components and implementation.
- Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) uses set theory to analyze complex phenomena and may aid evidence synthesis.
- This study examined QCA's suitability for systematic reviews of complex interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the approach of using QCA within a systematic review.
- To examine the suitability of QCA for synthesizing evidence on complex interventions.
Main Methods:
- Data from a systematic review on medication adherence interventions were analyzed using QCA.
- Two analyses were conducted: one on behavior change techniques (BCTs) and another on implementation features.
- Research questions were reframed for QCA, data were calibrated, and necessary/sufficient combinations were identified.
Main Results:
- QCA identified seven combinations of BCTs and four combinations of implementation features sufficient for improving adherence.
- Alignment was found between systematic review processes and QCA, but study abstraction methods needed refinement for robust calibration.
- QCA provided insights beyond the original review's single-dimension stratifications.
Conclusions:
- Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is suitable for systematic reviews of complex interventions, such as medication adherence.
- QCA offers deeper insights than traditional single-dimension analyses.
- Further research is needed to optimize QCA integration into evidence synthesis workflows.
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