Abstract
Objectives
To conceptualise and discuss dissemination bias in qualitative research.
Results
It is likely that the mechanisms leading to dissemination bias in quantitative research,
including time lag, language, gray literature, and truncation bias also contribute
to dissemination bias in qualitative research. These conceptual considerations have
informed the development of a research agenda.
Conclusion
Further exploration of dissemination bias in qualitative research is needed, including
the extent of non-dissemination and related dissemination bias, and how to assess
dissemination bias within qualitative evidence syntheses. We also need to consider
the mechanisms through which dissemination bias in qualitative research could occur
to explore approaches for reducing it.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 20, 2017
Accepted:
April 12,
2017
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: None.
Funding: This work was supported in part by funding from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (www.who.int/alliancehpsr/en/) (Grant number: SPHQ15-APW-1510), WHO, Norad (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation: www.norad.no), and the Research Council of Norway (www.forskningsradet.no) (Grant number: 237757/H10). S.L. is supported by funding from the South African Medical Research Council (www.mrc.ac.za). The funders had no role in preparation of the manuscript or the decision to publish.
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