The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hong, Quan Nha^{a; b} | Fàbregues, Sergi^c | Bartlett, Gillian^a | Boardman, Felicity^d | Cargo, Margaret^e | Dagenais, Pierre^f | Gagnon, Marie-Pierre^g | Griffiths, Frances^d | Nicolau, Belinda^h | O’Cathain, Aliciaⁱ | Rousseau, Marie-Claude^j | Vedel, Isabelle^a | Pluye, Pierre^{a; b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada | [b] Method Development Platform, Quebec SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Montréal, QC, Canada | [c] Department of Psychology and Education, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain | [d] Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK | [e] Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia | [f] Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada | [g] Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada | [h] Faculty of Dentistry, Division of Oral Health and Society Research, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada | [i] Medical Care Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK | [j] INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier Research Centre, Laval, QC, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Pierre Pluye, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, 5858 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Suite 300, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3S 1Z1, Tel.: +1 514 398 8483; Fax: +1 514 398 4202; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Appraising the quality of studies included in systematic reviews combining qualitative and quantitative evidence is challenging. To address this challenge, a critical appraisal tool was developed: the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The aim of this paper is to present the enhancements made to the MMAT. DEVELOPMENT: The MMAT was initially developed in 2006 based on a literature review on systematic reviews combining qualitative and quantitative evidence. It was subject to pilot and interrater reliability testing. A revised version of the MMAT was developed in 2018 based on the results from usefulness testing, a literature review on critical appraisal tools and a modified e-Delphi study with methodological experts to identify core criteria. TOOL DESCRIPTION: The MMAT assesses the quality of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. It focuses on methodological criteria and includes five core quality criteria for each of the following five categories of study designs: (a) qualitative, (b) randomized controlled, (c) nonrandomized, (d) quantitative descriptive, and (e) mixed methods. CONCLUSION: The MMAT is a unique tool that can be used to appraise the quality of different study designs. Also, by limiting to core criteria, the MMAT can provide a more efficient appraisal.

Keywords: Quality, mixed studies review, mixed methods review, systematic review, critical appraisal tool

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-180221

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 285-291, 2018