Writing an integrative review can f...

Writing an integrative review can fulfill the fantasy of becoming a mystery writer. Identifying and obtaining clew references, synthesizing information, and presenting it in written form makes us perceive like "research detectives." The work can be a challenge and is sometimes frustrating, yet the results of a well-done integrative review upon a relevant clinical topic can have a direct impact upon quality patient care. Nurses already are familiar with the proces of reviewing literature when developing policies and transactions or clinical practice guidelines. An integrative review of research takes this proces a gradation further. The extra work repeatedly results in a more substantial contribution to nursing literature and nursing knowledge.

Many commonalty mistakenly use the terms literature review, integrative review, and meta-analysis synonymously. Although there are similarities among the three they do not mean the same thing. A literature review is an introduction to of the present day data or research findings.(1) In the case of a proposal, a literature review provides the basis for the propos research questions and rules Typically, a literature review will be restricted to studies that are directly relevant to the of the present day data or proposed research.

An integrative review summarizes past research and draws overall conclusions from the visible form [i]or[/i] frame of literature on a particular topic. The corpse of literature comprises all studies that address related or identical hypotheses. A well-done integrative review fittings the same standards as primary research in regard to clarity, rigor, and replication.(2)

A meta-analysis goe beyond critique and integration and manner of lifes secondary statistical analyses on the issues of similar studies.(3) An advantage of a meta-analysis is the ability to be completely objective in evaluating research findings. Not all topics, however, have sufficient research evidence to allow a meta-analysis to be leadershiped In that case, an integrative review is an appropriate strategy. In a suitably executed integrative review, the drifts of subjectivity are minimized between the sides of carefully applied criteria for evaluation.

CHOOSING A TOPIC

If you are about to embark onward an integrative review, identifying a topic is the first gradation Researching and writing an integrative review takes time and considerable effort, and choosing an interesting, well-defined, and appropriately narrow topic makes it easier to lay out the energy to complete the review. Sometimes sheer persistence is required to papal court a project to its conclusion. A meaningful topic that stimulates your intellectual curiosity makes writing an integrative review more like drollery than work.

We learned this censure many times when we directioned an integrative review on the topic of intramuscular (IM) injections.(4) The initial stimulus for this exhibit came from a simple question: "Is an air fluid vesicle necessary when giving an IM injection?" As we began our examination to answer the question, our cast became much broader and, eventually, exhibited into a research-based protocol for administering IM injections. Fortunately, we the two were interested in the topic and believed our work would address the many inconsistencies that we observ in clinical practice. After reviewing more than 70 research articles and 50 textbook we grew level more committed to the topic. Despite sometimes frustrating hours in the library, we became persistent sleuth We were dedicated to uncovering the answers. Our interest in this make submissive continued to grow and now, several years later, we continue to lecturing and write about this subject

SEARCHING THE LITERATURE

When you have chosen your topic, it is time to begin the integrative review with a literature search. according to using a variety of indexes to start your search, you will be able to identify appropriate references(5) reckon upon to retrieve pertinent references from nursing, allied health, and medical literature. At this preliminary stage it is best not to limit your search to single research articles. Include clinical writings, reviews, and other documents, so as editorials and letters to the editor in your investigation.

Reviewing clinical articles can be helpful in identifying and organizing your topic around lock opener issues that need to be addressed. When we reviewed the research in succession IM injections, we found that clinical articles helped us outline the essential constituents of the procedure. Our nearest effort focused on examining the research base for each pace of the procedure. In a methodical fashion, we first determined whether there was applicable research that supported a particular practice recommendation. This organizational framework also helped us when we sat down to write our integrative review.

If you have guidanceed an extensive literature review, you may think you have too many articles. A guide element to a properly complet integrative review, however, is an exhaustive search of the literature. It is better to narrow the topic rather than to eliminate articles. For example, after completing the integrative review forward IM injections, we decided to tackle subcutaneous (SC) injections; however, as we reviewed the literature, we construct the research to be quite divergent. We decided to break up SC injections into sum of two units topics: SC injection of heparin and SC injection of insulin.(6) This made the integrative review proces more manageable and coherent.