Different types of reviews of literature and it's sources are included in this PowerPoint. A review of the literature is an inevitable part of the research process.

1. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Ms. AMEENA KADAR K A
THIRD SEM M PHARM
DEPT. OF PHARMACY PRACTICE
SANJO COLLEGEE OF PHARMACEUTICAL STUDIES

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INTRODUCTION
 Review of Literature is one of the most important steps in the research process.
 It is account of what is already known about a particular phenomenon.
 The main purpose of literature review is to convey to the readers about the
work already done and the knowledge and ideas that have been already
establishes in a particular topic of research.
 It is a laborious task, but it is essential if the research process is to be
successful.
 Before starting any research, a literature review of previous studies and
experiences related to the proposed investigations has to be done.

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DEFINITION
 A literature review is an account of what has been already established or
published on a particular research topic by accredited scholars and
researchers. (Taylor, 2001)
 Literature review is defined as a broad, comprehensive, in depth, systematic
critique and synthesis of scholarly publications, unpublished, print and
online materials, audiovisual materials and personal communications.
(Jesson, Matheson and Lacey, 2011)
 A literature review is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of
knowledge on a particular research topic. (Creswell, 2013)

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IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE REVIEW

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PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW

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TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Traditional or narrative literature review
2. Systematic literature review
3. Meta-analysis
4. Meta-synthesis
5. Umbrella review
6. Integrated review
7. Scoping review.

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 TRADITIONAL OR NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
 It presents the summary of literature and draws conclusions about the topic in
question.
 In this, the body of literature is composed of a summary of facts on the subject
area from the primary and secondary sources.
 The main aim of this type of literature review is to gather a volume of
literature in a specific subject area, summarizing and synthesizing it.
 The primary purpose of traditional literature review is to offer a comprehensive
background of subject under study to understand the subject area, identify
gaps, inconsistencies in body of knowledge and high- lighting the
significance of the new research question.

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 Traditional literature is essential for getting in-depth insight into the subject
area, refining the research question and hypotheses and support the
importance of new research through identifying the gaps and inconsistencies
in existing literature.
 It is also believed that traditional literature review is also useful for
developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks.

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 SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
 It is systematic and rigorous approach to literature review in a specific subject
area.
 The main aim is to find the answer for well-focused questions of clinical
practice.
 It is suggested that a systematic review should include the methods used for
searching, evaluating and synthesizing the literature.
 Contrary to narrative literature review, the systemic review uses explicit and
rigorous criteria to identify, critically evaluate and synthesize all the
published and unpublished literature available on a particular topic of interest.

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STEPS INVOLVED IN SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

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 META-ANALYSIS
 It is an advanced form of systemic literature, which includes a large body
of findings from the quantitative studies and computes the statistical
analysis in order to draw the integrated and cumulative inferences and
conclusion.
 The main aim of meta-analysis is to involve findings of several quantitative
studies on single subject area and carry out statistical computations on
them using standardized statistical techniques and procedures.

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OVERVIEW OF META-ANALYSIS

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 META-SYNTHESIS
 It is a non-statistical technique used to integrate, evaluate and interpret the
findings of multiple qualitative research studies.
 Findings from the phenomenological, grounded theory or ethnographic studies
may be integrated and used.
 Such studies may be combined to identify their common core elements and
themes.
 Unlike meta-analysis, where the ultimate intention is to reduce findings, meta-
synthesis involves analyzing and synthesizing key elements in each study, with
the aim of transforming individual findings into new conceptualizations and
interpretation.

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STEPS INVOLVED IN META-SYNTHESIS

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 UMBRELLA REVIEW
 It is the review of previously published systematic reviews or meta-analyses
and they are considered highest level of evidence synthesis.
 Recently, umbrella reviews are becoming quite popular among researchers of
health care disciplines to overcome the problem of several inconclusive
systematic review and meta-analysis on particular topic.
 It is important for the researchers to remember that umbrella reviews are
rarely required.

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STEPS OF UMBRELLA REVIEW

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 INTEGRATED REVIEW
 This is a specific type of review method, where existing observational and
experimental evidences are integrated to obtain better and deeper
understanding of a particular phenomenon to promote applicability in
practices.
 Integrated reviews have several limitations but they are commonly used by
nurses to develop evidence-based nursing practice guidelines.

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 SCOPING REVIEW
 It is an extensive synthesis of large, complex, diverse and heterogeneous
research evidences, where results are presented through logical diagrams,
tables and descriptions.
 Unlike mapping review, it is a topic-based evidence synthesis method rather
than a question-based review, which comprehensively synthesizes evidence
and also may identify gaps in exiting literature.

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SOURCES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
 Literature can be reviewed from two main sources:
 Primary Sources
 Secondary Sources
 Tertiary Sources

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1. PRIMARY SOURCES
 These are the original, peer-reviewed and published research journal articles
reported by original researchers.
 Primary sources are the research reports, which are description of studies
written by researchers who conducted them.
 Most primary sources are found in published literature.
 A credible literature review reflects the use of mainly primary sources.
 Adverse drug reaction reports are an example of primary literature and these
can be published in journals or contributed to pharmacovigilance centres.

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 Primary literature can be seen as the building block on which medical
science (and therefore clinical practice) is based.
 It is essential to understand its nature and to be able to critically analyze its
content using the full text of reports.
 Primary literature provides a ‘first look’ at how clinical practice may evolve
but it must be constantly monitored and interpreted carefully.
 Eg; Patents, conference papers/posters, journal articles reporting original
research, case reports, clinical trial protocols, etc.

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2. SECONDARY SOURCES
 These are research documents, description of studies prepared by someone
other than the original researcher.
 They are written by people other than the individuals who developed the
theory or conducted the research.
 It includes the comments and summaries of multiple research studies on one
topic, for example, systemic reviews, meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, etc.
 Secondary sources are usually paraphrased and may be based on the
secondary author's interpretation of the primary work; it is necessary then to
review primary source whenever possible to ensure accuracy.

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 However, secondary sources may be used when primary sources are not
available or if researchers want external opinions on an issue or problem or
even the results of their own research.
 The main sources from where literature can be searched are as:
a) Electronic sources
b) Printed Sources.

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a) ELECTRONIC SOURCES
 Computer-assisted literature search has revolutionized the review of
literature.
 Electronic literature search through web may be very useful, currently it is
one of the most important sources of literature searches.
 General literature search can be conducted through search engines, like
Google (www.google.com), Yahoo (www.yahoosearch.com), and MSN
search, Lycos, Web- Crawler, Alta Vista or Excite.

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 A search engine is a collection of software programs that collect
information from the Web, index it and put it in a format that is accessible
visually on screen at an on-site library or in downloadable, readable written
format.
 A database is an organized body of related information arranged for speed
of access and retrieval.
 Database is a storage location like a library, where information is stored,
catalogued, maintained and uploaded systematically.
 The two main types of databases that are available are bibliographic and
full-text databases.

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 Bibliographic database gives only direction on where to find the information,
whereas full- text database contains the information itself (full research
articles in downloadable format).
 The most useful and relevant databases are as follows:
CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature).
MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieved System Online
PubMed
Medline Plus
Cochrane database of system reviews
Web of science
ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Databases
EMBASE

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b) PRINTED SOURCES.
 Printed research summary may be located from published abstracts, such as
Pharmacy Research Abstract, Psychological Abstracts, Dissertation Abstract
International, Masters Abstract International, etc.
 The main printed sources that can be used to review the relevant literature
are:
 Journals: Eg: International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Indian
Journal of Pharmacology.
 Research Reports

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 Unpublished dissertation and theses
 Magazines and newspapers
 Conferences papers and proceedings
 Encyclopedia and dictionaries
 Books.

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 Tertiary resources are summaries of the primary and secondary published
literature.
 Printed textbooks are the main example and these are characterized by a
slow rate of revision compared to secondary sources.
 Although they are revised less frequently, these texts tend to be more
comprehensive and should undergo a more thorough review and editing
process than secondary sources.
 Many major textbooks are now published electronically as well as in print,
so sections can be updated progressively rather than waiting for a complete
revision at the time of printing (usually every 3–5 years).

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STEPS OF LITERATURE REVIEW

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APPROACHES OF ORGANIZING THE LITERATURE
REVIEW
 A literature review is a piece of discursive prose, not a list describing or
summarizing one piece of literature after another. It should have a single
organizing principle:
 Thematic - organize around a topic or issue
 Chronological - sections for each vital time period
 Methodological - focus on the methods used by the researchers/writers.

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REFERENCES
 Nursing Research and Statistics by Suresh K Sharma; 4th Edition, Elsevier
Publications, Page No.78-88.
 A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Essential Concepts and Skills
by G Parthasarathi, Karin Nyfort-Hansen, Milap C Nahata, University
Press, 2nd Edition, Page No. 328- 329.
THANK YOU!