"An integrative review...summarizes past empirical or theoretical literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a particular phenomenon or healthcare problem (Broome 1993). Integrative reviews, thus, have the potential to build nursing science, informing research, practice, and policy initiatives. The integrative review method...allows for the inclusion of diverse methodologies (i.e. experimental and non-experimental research)" (Whittemore and Knafl, 2005).
Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing (Wiley-Blackwell), 52(5), 546–553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
Steps in the Integrative Review Search Process:
- Create EndNote Library.
- Write out search terms and strategy.
- Search appropriate literature databases:
- Search using keywords and database-specific subject headings.
- Do some preliminary searching and adjust search strategy as appropriate.
- Keep meticulous documentation of searches: SAVE search and print out (or copy/paste to Word) search strategy from that database, date of search, number of citations. Searches must be thorough, reproducible, and include the full search strategy.
- Export all citations from the database into EN.
- Repeat this process for the rest of your databases.
- Remove duplicates.
- Create PRISMA flow diagram of search process.
- Write up search methods.
