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TRANSCRIPT
The Literature Search Process
Objectives1. Describe the process of conducting a thorough
literature review2. Identify core principles of a thorough search3. Compare and select resources for education / medical
literature
What is a literature review?
“…comprehensive study and interpretation of literature that addresses a specific topic.”Aveyard, Helen. Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide, 2010.
Why conduct a literature review?Provide background on a topicIdentify gaps for innovationsPlace findings into contextPropose opportunities for further research
Literature review process
Identify specific research question
Synthesize the literature
Search the literature
Assess relevance of the literature
Integrate findings
Manage citations to literature
Identifying a specific questionWhat’s the difference?
Topic 1: Effectiveness of early warning systems
Topic 2: Effectiveness of early warning systems on failure to rescue
Identifying a specific question 2Define your Topic
“Do early warning systems reduce the failure to rescue rate in inpatients?”
Search the literaturePICO –specific question searchable question
P (patient population / problem) I (intervention / exposure)C (comparison)O (outcomes)
Search the literature 2P – inpatientsI – early warning systemsC – ?O – failure to rescue
Search the literature 31. Think in concepts2. Keep the concepts separate3. Use keywords and controlled vocabulary4. Use Boolean operators5. Filter or limit the results responsibly
Think in concepts / keep them separate
Early warning systems
Failure to rescue
Think in concepts / keep them separate*Consider alternative terminology (synonyms, acronyms, etc.)
Ex: Early warning system• Physiological scoring system• Integrated monitoring system
Think in Concepts / keep them separate
Early warning systems
Failure to rescue
• Early warning system• Physiological scoring
system• Early warning score(s)• Physiological alert tool• Integrated monitoring
system
• Failure to rescue• Suboptimal
management• Suboptimal care• Physiologic
deterioration• Catastrophic
deterioration
Use keywords and controlled vocabularyKeywords – Everyday language used to describe a concept
• Not assigned• May be included in title, author name / affiliation,
abstract, and other areas of a record• Variety is the spice of life…for some• Helpful for picking up rare terms/ terms that do not rise
to the level of subject terms
Use keywords and controlled vocabularyControlled vocabulary– Assigned terms for a single concept, usually the topic of an article
• Disambiguate language• Organize databases• Facilitate retrieval• Assigned by humans
Use Boolean operators
Early warningsystems
Failure to rescue Failure to rescueEarly warningsystems
AND OR
Put it all togetherKeywords:Early warning systemsPhysiological scoring systemPhysiological alert tool
Search:"Physiological scoring system“ OR “Physiological alert tool” OR "Monitoring, Physiological"[MeSH] OR "Biological Markers"[Mesh]
Subject Terms:"Monitoring, Physiological"[MeSH]"Biological Markers"[Mesh]
Filter or limit the results
Early warningsystems
Failure to rescue
Retrospectivestudies
Resources for Med Ed ResearchPubMed• Biomedical, health sciences, vet med, nursing research
ERIC• Education research
PsycINFO• Psychology and psychiatry research
Academic Search Complete• Broad coverage of disciplines, popular articles also included
Side Note: Keeping track of the searchSpreadsheets!• Track terms used in search• Note variations between databases• Copy / paste searches to re-run later
Manage CitationsHow will you store, organize, access, share, cite the articles?
Some options:• Refworks (guides.library.vcu.edu/refworks)• Endnote• Zotero• Mendeley
Assess RelevanceBased on innate or defined inclusion criteria• Population characteristics• Study design elements• Specific outcomes
Cannot necessarily search for these elements
Synthesizing the literatureWhat are the areas of agreement / disagreement?
Are there new findings that are relevant to your work?
What information is most useful to you?
Citation (author, title, journal) Year Population Intervention Outcome(s) Design
Jones, "Are we sticking kids enough? A study of needle stick frequency on child crying initiation", Journal of Practical Pediatrics
2013 children needles time to cryrandomized controlled trial
Johnson, "Effect of masks on child irritability", Journal of Pediatric Psychology
2011 children latex masks scream in decibels
randomized controlled trial
Integrate the findingsResearch proposal?
Introduction / discussion section?
Stand – alone paper?
