The CochrAne qualitative Methodological LimitatiOns Tool (CAMELOT) provides authors of qualitative evidence syntheses (QES) with a transparent and systematic method to assess methodological limitations of primary qualitative studies. The CAMELOT Development Group, which includes members of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group (CQIMG), developed the tool in four stages. The tool is evidence-based, specifically for use in Cochrane reviews or GRADE-CERQual.
CAMELOT consists of 12 domains. Four of the domains are Meta domains. These domains encourage review authors to consider study characteristics beyond how the study was carried out, but which inform the study's conduct and design. Eight of the domains are Method domains and encourage review authors to focus on how the study was planned, designed, and/or conducted. Review authors make an assessment by identifying any concerns regarding the methods used in the study and considering the appropriateness of fit between the Meta and Method domains.
February 2025: Cochrane endorsed CAMELOT as optional for prospective authors following a recommendation from the Methods Executive, which was informed by the relevant Methods Group, Cochrane's Methods Support Unit, the Head of Methods and Evidence Synthesis/Deputy Editor-in-Chief, a Cochrane Review Group representative and the Methods Executive representative on Cochrane's Editorial Board.
Key Resources:
- Cochrane-Campbell Handbook for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, Chapter 7. ‘Assessing methodological strengths and limitations of qualitative studies’
- Munthe-Kaas HM, Booth A, Sommer I, et al. Developing CAMELOT for assessing methodological limitations of qualitative research for inclusion in qualitative evidence syntheses. Cochrane Ev Synth. 2024; 2:e12058. doi:10.1002/cesm.12058
- Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group website