Successful development and testing of a Method for Aggregating The Reporting of Interventions in Complex Studies (MATRICS).
OBJECTIVE
To develop a tool for the accurate reporting and aggregation of findings from each of the multiple methods used in a complex evaluation in an unbiased way.


METHODS
We developed a Method for Aggregating The Reporting of Interventions in Complex Studies (MATRICS) within a gastroenterology study [Evaluating New Innovations in (the delivery and organisation of) Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy services by the NHS Modernisation Agency (ENIGMA)]. We subsequently tested it on a different gastroenterology trial [Multi-Institutional Nurse Endoscopy Trial (MINuET)]. We created three layers to define the effects, methods, and findings from ENIGMA. We assigned numbers to each effect in layer 1 and letters to each method in layer 2. We used an alphanumeric code based on layers 1 and 2 to every finding in layer 3 to link the aims, methods, and findings. We illustrated analogous findings by assigning more than one alphanumeric code to a finding. We also showed that more than one effect or method could report the same finding. We presented contradictory findings by listing them in adjacent rows of the MATRICS.


RESULTS
MATRICS was useful for the effective synthesis and presentation of findings of the multiple methods from ENIGMA. We subsequently successfully tested it by applying it to the MINuET trial.


CONCLUSIONS
MATRICS is effective for synthesizing the findings of complex, multiple-method studies.
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK. Electronic address: h.a.hutchings@swansea.ac.uk.
Hayley A
HA
Hutchings
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Kymberley
K
Thorne
Institute of Health Service Effectiveness (IHSE), Aston University Business School, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
Gabi S
GS
Jerzembek
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Wai-Yee
WY
Cheung
Faculty of Health Sport and Science, University of South Wales, Treforest, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, UK.
David
D
Cohen
Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XW, UK.
Dharmaraj
D
Durai
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Frances L
FL
Rapport
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Anne C
AC
Seagrove
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
John G
JG
Williams
Patient and Population Health and Informatics Research (PPHI), Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Ian T
IT
Russell
D006801:Humans; D011996:Records; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*
Complex interventions; Data reporting; Evaluation methods; Evaluation studies as topic; Multiple methods; Research design