2. Review the Literature
- It is essential that existing sources of evidence, especially systematic reviews, are considered carefully prior to undertaking research.
- Re-inventing the wheel? Research which duplicates other work unnecessarily or which is not of sufficient quality to contribute something useful to existing knowledge is in itself unethical.
Where do I start?
- How to search literature: attend a short introductory course (available at most university libraries)
- Discuss with your supervisor or mentor
- Then work out a search strategy to decide on your plan of action
- Start reading: use reading lists, texts, journals, abstracts, etc. (Connecting for Health has a useful glossary if you get stuck with the acronyms)
- Internet search engines may be helpful but beware of incomplete information
- Try looking at these useful guides:
- How to conduct an effective and valid literature search from the Nursing TImes
- Literature searching: University of York: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
- Millbrook House, University of Plymouth has a guide on Searching the literature and Critically Reviewing the Literature
- Carrying Out A Literature Review from Bolton University
- How to develop critical appraisal skills : Public Health Resource Unit
- Consider whether your research proposal will be important to users:
- The James Lind Alliance aims to identify the most important gaps in knowledge about the effects of treatments and brings patients and clinicians together to identify and prioritise the unanswered questions that they agree are most important.
- The Cochrane Consumer Network is an international consumer organisation within the Cochrane Collaboration.
Libraries
Libraries are a very good source of information and help.
- You can find your local library from the Health Library & Information Services Directory (HLISD).
- Social Care Online provides a complete range of information and research on all aspects of social care.
Links to useful websites
These websites are excellent for literature searching. In some cases you will need a password which your library may be able to provide.
- PubMed -Searches MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s
- Intute - Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences
- The Cochrane Collaboration - A collection of evidence-based medicine databases, including The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Embase - Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences
- PsycINFO - Major bibliographic database for psychology. Coverage: 2465 to date.
- RDDirect - for links to the above and to other databases
- NHS Evidence provides access to 8 bibliographical databases and over 800 full text journals. You will need an Athens username/password to gain access, so contact your library for details. The databases, which are excellent for literature searching are:
- AMED - Allied and Complementary Medicine Database
- BNI - The British Nursing Index (BNI) is a UK nursing database which covers British publications and other English language titles from over 220 related journals.
- CINAHL - Major bibliographic database for nursing and allied health
- DH-DATA - jointly produced by two services at the Department of Health (UK): The Department of Health Library and Information Service and Solutions for Public Health. The core subjects covered by the Department of Health Library are health service and hospital administration, with an emphasis on the British National Health Service. Solutions for Public Health specialises in medical toxicology and environmental health.
- EMBASE - Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences
- KING'S FUND - Focus on improving health and health care, covering policy and management of health and social care services in the UK rather than clinical issues and treatments. Core subjects include National Health Service (NHS) management, social care, health inequalities, urban health and regeneration, race and health, partnership working, primary care, mental health, public involvement, and workforce development in the NHS.
- MEDLINE - Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences
- PSYCHINFO - Major bibliographic database for psychology.
- PubMed - Access is freely available and does not require a special password to access.
Systematic Reviews
The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at The University of York has published an excellent guide on systematic reviews.
