Minutes of the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the Cochrane Qual

COCHRANE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS GROUP

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008

Minutes of the 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Cochrane Qualitative Methods Research Group Sunday 5th October 2008 in Konzerthaus K5-7 Room, Konzerthaus, Freiburg, Germany from 0730-0900

IN ATTENDANCE

Adrienne Stevens

Alan Pearson

Andrew Booth

Daniel Lo

Elle Aki

Esther Core

Janet Harris

Karin Hannes

Luciana Ballini

Sandy Oliver

Simon Lewin

Craig Lockwood

1. INTRODUCTORY AND FORMAL BUSINESS

1.1 Welcome To Meeting And Opening Remarks

Alan Pearson, Co-Convenor, welcomed members to the meeting.

1.2 Apologies

Apologies were received from Jane Noyes (concurrent meeting scheduled).

1.3 Minutes Of The 2007 AGM

The minutes of the 2007 AGM were approved by Andrew Booth, and seconded by Janet Harris.

2. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

2.1 The Cochrane Handbook has been published and released at the Freiburg Colloquium.

3. CHAIRS REPORT

3.1 The CQRMG contribution to the Cochrane Handbook is contained in Section 3 and reflects a broad overview of qualitative synthesis rather than guidance.

3.2 Firm guidance for methods of incorporating qualitative evidence in Cochrane reviews of effects has been framed, and is in draft format.

3.3 A 4 day summit, sponsored by the Joanna Briggs Institute and partly funded by Cochrane was held in Adelaide, Australia during August 2008 to develop the framework for formal guidance, and commence write up. It is anticipated that the release date will be in the first quarter of 2009.

3.4 The 4-day summit was followed by a 2-day symposium on qualitative evidence and how it can be incorporated in Cochrane reviews of effects. The symposium used the “toolbox” approach to reviews, with presentations on question development, criteria, searching, appraisal, extraction, synthesis and data presentation. The slides from the 2-day symposium will be available from the CQRMG website: http://www.joannabriggs.edu.au/cqrmg/about.html

3.5 The guidance will also be posted on the CQRMG website, and comment from members will be welcomed

3.6 It was suggested that in conjunction with the Cochrane Colloquium in Singapore that an Oceania symposium will be held based on the guidance

4. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

4.1 It was highlighted that the CQRMG has an open membership whereby interested persons can join via the website at no cost

4.2 The use of CCinfo to promote the group and its activities has been occurring, and will continue

4.3 Members were encouraged to sign up for the newsletter, or to download it from the CQRMG website

4.4 It was discussed that increased engagement might include attending Cochrane Contributors meetings in Europe, the UK, USA, Australasia; identification of centres interested in qualitative methods, and seek to run joint meetings to flag CQRMG methods and guidance; and that mainstream engagement within Cochrane should initially be based on liasing and communicating with Centres rather than CRGs.

4.5 Karin Hannes reported that there were 4 training opportunities in the past year, one each in Norway, Sheffield, Belgium and Adelaide, with the intention to repeat the 4 opportunities in 2009. Karin also reported that training materials would be available from the CQRMG website; and that a CQRMG satellite meeting would be held in Singapore at the 2009 Cochrane Colloquium.

4.6 There was discussion of the potential to produce a CD-ROM of the databases on the CQRMG website.

4.7 A message from the monitoring group was tabled by the Chair that suggested the CQRMG seek to contribute regularly to the Cochrane News, and to meet with review group coordinators at Colloquium.

4.8 It was suggested that members have the ability to load papers in a methodology register on the CQRMG website; and that the CQRMG develop a taxonomy suited to the methodology register.

5. OTHER BUSINESS

5.1 It was suggested that a named group of mentors be established who could be contacted by CRGs seeking to use evidence in practice; it was agreed that the convenors should be the first point of contact within Cochrane.

5.2 The potential for establishing a funded methodological support unit was raised, the Chair agreed to draft a proposal for a joint Australian, European support unit.

5.3 It was suggested that the CQRMG develop a document to guide and standardise training and support based on the guidance, and it was agreed the education and training sub group would action this, enabling the CQRMG to issue certificates of attendance and support to training attendees.

6. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

6.1 The date of the next AGM of the CQRMG will be announced prior to the 2009 Cochrane Colloquium in Singapore.