Table 2.

When dissemination bias may arise in the process of writing up and disseminating the findings of qualitative studies

Stage of the dissemination process	How dissemination bias may arise
Funder/commercial/policy interests	Studies or study findings not disseminated because of funder interests, commercial interests or other interests related to a policy process
Decision to write/submit for publication	• Study findings contrary to popular opinion or practice more/less likely to be written up or disseminated • Most novel or striking study findings selected for publication • Findings of unfunded studies less likely to be submitted for publication
Decisions on which themes/findings to include or emphasise in study reports	Study authors favour particular interpretations
Choice of dissemination strategy	• Study authors choose avenue/s to disseminate the study findings (e.g., to which journal to submit the paper) that result in findings being less available • Studies in some languages more likely to be published in non-indexed journals and therefore their findings are less available
Editorial policies of journals and other dissemination forums	• Journal editors/peer reviewers favour studies reporting findings focusing on particular issues • Word limits make full publication of findings less likely
Inclusion in databases	• Particular study findings more/less like to be found if the studies reporting these, or the journals typically publishing these, are more/less likely to be included in databases and therefore to be retrieved

This table does not intend to provide a comprehensive overview of all the routes through which dissemination bias may arise in writing up and disseminating the findings of qualitative studies