HEALER Research Toolkit
Step 2: Review the Literature
It is essential that existing sources of evidence, especially systematic reviews, are considered carefully prior to undertaking research.
Where do I start?
Plan your search strategy, discussing your ideas with your supervisor or mentor if necessary. The following resources may be helpful in undertaking your literature review:
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Aveyard H. (2014) Doing a literature review in health and social care: a practical guide. 3rd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press.
- Clapton J. (2009) Establishing the context for your research project. Library and Information Research, 33 (104, 37-44. Available from: http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/article/view/154
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Garrad J. (2010) Health sciences literature review made easy: the matrix method. 3rd ed. Gaithersberg: Aspen.
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Grant MJ, Booth A. (2009) A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26 (2), 91-108.
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Greenhalgh T. (2006) How to read a paper: the basics of evidence based medicine. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Jesson, J., Matheson, L., Lacey, F. (2011). Doing your literature review: traditional and systematic techniques. London: Sage
- Machi L S, MeEvoy B T. (2009) The literature review: six steps to success. California: Corwin Press.
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Also look at the FOLIO courses available to librarians in this area (this web site has not been updated for some time, but it contains a large amount of very helpful, downloadable material)
If you are looking to do a systematic review the following resources may be helpful:
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Booth A, Papaioannou D, Sutton A. (2012) Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. London: Sage
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PRISMA statement - Flowchart and tool for reporting results of data gathering in systematic reviewing
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Toolkit for the NW Clinical Librarians Systematic Reviews Group: This toolkit is currently undergoing revisions though is still available from Alison Brettle, University of Salford at a.brettle@salford.ac.uk
Other Useful Resources
Journals
The following journals are key sources for LIS research:
LIS Databases
The following are clinical or health management databases but do include references to articles on knowledge management, library information services etc.
- Cochrane Library: A collection of evidence-based medicine databases, including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Embase: Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences published in Europe
- ERIC: International bibliographic database on educational research and practice. Subjects covered include physical education, exercise, sport, nutrition and health
- PubMed: Searches MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s. Access is free for NHS staff and University staff
- NICE Evidence: Provides access to 8 bibliographical databases and over 800 full text journals - excellent for literature searching. You need an Athens username/password (NHS staff password registation) to gain access. The databases are:
- Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED)
- British Nursing Index (BNI): 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. This database also contains a substantial amount of health libraries literature.
- EMBASE: Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences published in Europe
- Health Business Elite: Contains full text content from 480 journals, detailing all aspects of health care administration and other non-clinical aspects of health care institution management.
- Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC): Compilation database from two sources - the Department of Health's Library and Information Services and King’s Fund Information and Library Service
- MEDLINE: Major bibliographic database for biomedical sciences
- PsycINFO: Major bibliographic database for psychology from 1887 to date
Web Sites