[Introduction to qualitative evidence synthesis - Variants and application].

Qualitative evidence syntheses (QES) are still uncommon in German rehabilitation research, although robust syntheses of qualitative evidence may lead to more strongly scientifically based decisions in health care. This article introduces the topic of qualitative evidence synthesis by describing three different synthesis methods - thematic synthesis, meta-ethnography, and grounded theory synthesis - and illustrating them with examples from rehabilitation research. This is followed by guidance on selecting the appropriate QES-method and reflections on the challenges of QES that are associated with the literature search and quality assessment of the studies to be included in the synthesis.

Study protocol of a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis using two different approaches: Healthcare related needs and desires of older people with post-stroke aphasia.

Introduction: Stroke is a frequent disease in the older population of Western Europe with aphasia as a common consequence. Aphasia is known to impede targeting treatment to individual patients' needs and therefore may reduce treatment success. In Germany, the postacute care of patients who had stroke is provided by different healthcare institutions of different sectors (rehabilitation, nursing and primary care) with substantial difficulties to coordinate services.