Improving reporting of meta-ethnography: the eMERGe reporting guidance

The aim of this study was to provide guidance to improve the completeness and clarity of meta-ethnography reporting.

Evidence-based policy and practice require robust evidence syntheses which can further understanding of people's experiences and associated social processes. Meta-ethnography is a rigorous seven-phase qualitative evidence synthesis methodology, developed by Noblit and Hare. Meta-ethnography is used widely in health research, but reporting is often poor quality and this discourages trust in and use of its findings. Meta-ethnography reporting guidance is needed to improve reporting quality.