Best fit” framework synthesis for generating new theoretical insights: A worked example using workplace smoking cessation interventions
| Dates: | 22 January 2013 |
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| Times: | 14:00 - 15:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Institute of Population Health |
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| Who is it for: | Alumni, Current University students, University staff |
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| Speaker: | Chris Carroll |
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The need to reduce smoking rates is a recognised public health policy issue in many countries. The workplace offers a potential context for offering smokers’ programmes and interventions to assist smoking cessation or reduction. Several systematic reviews have been published evaluating the effectiveness of workplace interventions, but there is currently no related review and synthesis of the relevant qualitative evidence.
“Best fit” framework synthesis is a new form of qualitative evidence synthesis. In this worked example all techniques are defined and explained, and their appropriateness is assessed. Specified features of the method include the development of new techniques to systematically identify theories and a method to create an a priori framework for the review and synthesis. An innovative combination of existing methods of quality assessment, synthesis and analysis is used to complete the process.
The method is suited to producing new conceptual frameworks or models for describing or explaining the decision-making and health behaviours of patients and other groups. The findings and model can in turn be used to generate an hypothesis or theory.
In this case, the review and synthesis found that the efficacy of any relevant workplace intervention would be mediated by an individual employee’s readiness to quit smoking. Recognising the key role of precontemplation/contemplation represents a hypothesis that can be used to develop workplace interventions and be tested in empirical research.
Speaker
Chris Carroll
Organisation: University of Sheffield
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Seminar Room 2, 5th floor
Williamson Building
Manchester
