Protocol-based Meta-ethnography — Pre-registered Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

Protocol-based meta-ethnography is a structured qualitative evidence synthesis that follows Noblit and Hare's meta-ethnography method while requiring a pre-registered, publicly available protocol — typically on PROSPERO — before the review is conducted. Pre-registration constrains post-hoc decision-making, enhances methodological transparency, and aligns qualitative synthesis with the rigour standards now expected by leading journals and funders.