Transforming Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

Qualitative Evidence Synthesis or QES is a systematic way to bring together evidence on a specific topic from many existing qualitative studies, such as those using patient interviews. In a QES researchers re-interpret qualitative studies to come up with new conclusions on a specific topic. A QES can explain, for example, how and why health services or policies work or not, why patients or health professionals behave in a certain way, or what it is like to experience an illness. 

Despite their growing importance, QES often suffer from poor reporting, undermining trust and usability. Existing reporting guidelines are outdated, too narrow in scope, or not designed for QES. An updated, evidence-based PRISMA guideline tailored to QES is urgently needed. This will improve reporting quality, encourage the use of QES findings in policy and practice, and ultimately benefit patients and the public by supporting better health and care outcomes. 

Cochrane Colloquium 2026 - Kraków, Poland

We’re delighted to be running a workshop at this year’s Cochrane Colloquium, Cochrane Evidence: Living, Trusted, Transformed. In our workshop, we’ll introduce the new PRISMA-QES 

When: 8-10 December 2026 

Where: ICE Kraków Congress Centre

 🔗 Find out more about the Colloquium

If you’re attending, we’d love to see you there!