title: A mixed-methods approach to systematic reviews.
abstract: There are an increasing number of published single-method systematic reviews that focus on different types of evidence related to a particular topic. As policy makers and practitioners seek clear directions for decision-making from systematic reviews, it is likely that it will be increasingly difficult for them to identify 'what to do' if they are required to find and understand a plethora of syntheses related to a particular topic.Mixed-methods systematic reviews are designed to address this issue and have the potential to produce systematic reviews of direct relevance to policy makers and practitioners.On the basis of the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute International Mixed Methods Reviews Methodology Group in 2012, the Institute adopted a segregated approach to mixed-methods synthesis as described by Sandelowski et al., which consists of separate syntheses of each component method of the review. Joanna Briggs Institute's mixed-methods synthesis of the findings of the separate syntheses uses a Bayesian approach to translate the findings of the initial quantitative synthesis into qualitative themes and pooling these with the findings of the initial qualitative synthesis.
authors.affiliation: 1The Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 2The University of Nottingham Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery: A JBI Collaborating Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England, UK 3The Northeast Institute for Evidence Synthesis and Translation (NEST): A JBI Collaborating Centre, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey, USA 4Portugal Centre for Evidence Based Practice: A JBI Affiliate Centre, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal 5The Scottish Centre for Evidence-Based Multi-professional Practice: A JBI Collaborating Centre, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Heath
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bath-Hextall
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmond
authors.forename: Joao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apostolo
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D036262:Empirical Research; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic