The Essential Guide to Doing a Health and Social Care Literature Review

This step-by-step guide takes the reader logically through the process of undertaking a literature review, from determining when this methodology might be useful, through to publishing the findings. It is designed particularly for students undertaking a dissertation using literature review methodology. However, it also caters to practitioners who wish to review the existing evidence in order to develop practice.
Key features of the text include:
a chapter on what makes a good literature review, so that readers are clear and confident about what they're aiming for;
discussion of the value of literature reviews, whether for fulfilling the requirements of a course or for developing practice;
a chapter structure that reflects the structure of a typical dissertation by literature review, making the material intuitive and easy to navigate;
case examples throughout to illustrate how methodological principles work in practice;
a troubleshooting guide to provide support and advice on common problems when carrying out a literature review;
advice on the dissemination of findings.
Written by an established author with significant experience teaching and supervising students doing literature reviews, this invaluable text offers systematic and insightful advice on all aspects of literature review methodology, from problem identification to synthesizing information to forming conclusions. It is ideal for any student or practitioner in health and social care looking to undertake a literature review for study or practice purposes.

Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor is a Senior Lecturer in Practice Development at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University, UK. She has a wealth of experience teaching in research and offering support as a tutor and supervisor for dissertations at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her most recent books are Developing Person-Centred Practice (2015) and Managing Change in Healthcare: A Step by Step Guide (2013).

1. What is Literature Review Methodology? 2. Why Carry Out a Literature Review? 3. What Constitutes a Good Literature Review? 4. The Background and Rationale for the Review 5. Developing the Review Question and Aims 6. Carrying out the Search 7. Appraising the Literature 8. Synthesizing the Findings 8. Discussing the Literature Review Findings 10. Drawing Conclusions and Making Recommendations 11. Disseminating the Findings of a Literature Review