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Testing Methodological Guidance on the Conduct of Narrative Synthesis in Systematic Reviews Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Smoke Alarm Ownership and Function

The objective was to assess the impact of new guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews of effectiveness, by means of a blinded comparison of guidance-led narrative synthesis against a meta-analysis of the same study data. The conclusions of the two syntheses were broadly similar. However, differences between the approaches meant that conclusions about the impact of moderators of effect appeared stronger when derived from the meta-analysis, whereas implications for future research appeared more extensive when derived from the narrative synthesis. These fi ndings emphasize that a rigorously conducted narrative synthesis can add meaning and value to the fi ndings of meta-analysis. The guidance framework provided a useful vehicle for structuring a narrative synthesis and increasing transparency and rigour of the process. While there may be risks with overinterpretation of study data, the framework, tools and Evaluation Copyright © 2009 SAGE Publications (Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore) DOI: 10.1177/1356389008097871 Vol 15(1): 047–071