Table 2 Summary of aims, methods, and results of three case studies of searching for and synthesising grey literature and grey information
Review 1, 2006 [17] | Review 2, 2011 [20] | Review 3, 2016 (Hillier-Brown F, Summerbell C, Moore H, Wrieden W, Abraham C, Adams J, Adamson A, Araujo-Soares V, White M, Lake A. A description of interventions promoting healthier ready-to-eat meals (to eat in, to take away, or to be delivered) sold by specific food outlets in England: a systematic mapping and evidence synthesis. BMC public health 2015, unpublished) | |
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Aims | ‘To answer the question: what are the health, social and financial impacts of welfare rights advice delivered in healthcare settings?’ | ‘Identify the range of existing adult cooking skills interventions that are presently implemented in England which meet key criteria…Make a judgement on the suitability of each identified intervention for rigorous outcome evaluation.’ | ‘To systematically identify interventions to promote healthier ready-to-eat meals sold by specific food outlets in England. To describe the type of interventions, and summarise information on their content and delivery. To summarise information from [any] evaluations.’ |
Inclusion criteria | Evaluations of welfare right advice in a healthcare setting in terms of health, social, or financial outcomes. No exclusions based on: Outcomes Study design Study population Place of publication Language of publication | Interventions that meet all the criteria: Aim to develop basic kitchen and cooking skills Target adults aged 16 years or over Target non-professional cooks Use a written curriculum Involve interaction between tutor and participant Involve more than one session Run on a not-for-profit basis | Interventions that meet all the criteria: In specific food outlets Openly accessible to the general public Selling ready-to-eat meals and beverages as their main business for profit No exclusions based on: place of publication/reporting of information Methodological quality |
Search methods | Searches of: Databases of peer-reviewed and grey literature relevant journals an internet search engine relevant funder and third sector websites References and citations of included studies publications of authors of included studies targeted requests sent via email to those with publications in the field General requests: Sent to relevant email distributions lists posted on online bulletin boards published in ‘trade press’ | Searches of: An internet search engine Relevant funder and third sector websites Targeted requests sent via email to: All Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England All local authorities (LA) in England All regional obesity leads in England Regional voluntary sector network organisations | Searches of: Databases of peer-reviewed and grey literature research and trial databases an internet search engine relevant funder and third sector websites media database Targeted requests sent via email to: All local authorities in England Those with publications in the field General requests: Sent to relevant professionals orgs via Twitter Sent to relevant email distributions lists Posted on online bulletin boards Published in ‘trade press’ |
Type of literature and information included | Peer-reviewed literature Grey literature | Grey literature Grey information | Peer-reviewed literature Grey literature Grey information |
Synthesis method | Narrative, with quantitative synthesis of mean financial benefit per client | Narrative, with ‘theory mapping’ of interventions to identify the key behaviour change theories used | Narrative synthesis |
Studies/interventions included (n) | 55 | 14 | 102 (30 of which included an evaluation) |
Conclusions | ‘Welfare rights advice services can go some way to resolving under claiming. However, there is currently little evidence of adequate robustness and quality to indicate that such services lead to health improvements.’ | ‘We recommend that an outcome evaluation, involving a randomised controlled trial (RCT), a process, and an economic evaluation, is conducted…preceded by feasibility work.’ ‘Jamie’s Ministry of Food is the only single intervention identified that could fulfil the sample size requirements. However…this intervention may not make best use of behaviour change theory. A number of smaller interventions make good use of theory [but] would [not] fulfil the sample size requirements.’ ‘We recommend either or both of: Jamie’s Ministry of Food is approached to discuss their willingness to develop their programme, with a view to taking part in an RCT. Or, a number of existing local interventions, which make good use of theory, are approached to discuss if their programmes could be harmonised, with a view to taking part in an RCT.’ | ‘The best available evidence suggests that food outlet proprietors are generally positive about implementing these interventions, particularly when they are cost neutral and use a ‘health-by-stealth’ approach. Little robust evidence is available on the effectiveness of these approaches and further research is needed to generate this evidence. Opportunities for working upstream with suppliers, and in co-participation with consumers, when developing interventions should be explored.’ |