This approach is sensitised to the processes of conventional systematic review methodology and draws on recent advances in methods for interpretive synthesis.
By innovating with existing methods for interpretive synthesis, it was possible to produce not only new methods for conducting what we have termed critical interpretive synthesis, but also a new theoretical conceptualisation of access to healthcare.
Conducting interpretive reviews in challenging areas where there is a large body of diverse evidence demands an approach that can draw on the strengths of conventional systematic review methodology and on the recent advances in methods for interpretive synthesis.
For the analysis, we used the method of interpretive synthesis, focusing first on 31 papers with theoretical or conceptual frameworks; the remaining 70 articles were used to strengthen and consolidate the findings.
A qualitative method of interpretive description will be used.
Methods of interpretive phenomenology are especially suited to explore human learning processes, transitions, and everyday comportment [ 27- 29], all of which are important features when a woman is becoming a mother and the day-to-day caregiver for a baby.
The theoretical background and method for this study derived from interpretive phenomenology as described by Heidegger [ 25] and Merleau-Ponty [ 26], and applied to nursing research by Benner and her colleagues [ 27- 29].
Current methods for conducting an interpretive synthesis of the literature, (such as meta-ethnography) are also limited, in part because application of many interpretive methods for synthesis has remained confined to studies reporting qualitative research.
While there are differences in approaches and rationale for some qualitative synthesis methods (for example, Critical Interpretive Synthesis may be better suited for large diverse bodies of literature while meta-ethnography may be better for analysing a smaller number of papers) [ 4] there is a core set of techniques common to most qualitative synthesis methods.
We explain in particular our development of Critical Interpretive Synthesis as a method for conducting this review.
