Conducting a Literature Search and Writing a Literature Review

1. Conducting a Literature Search and Writing a Literature Review Lisa Eblen, MLIS, AHIP Research Symposium 16 November 2011

2. Why does a CID Research Proposal require a literature search and review? • Define the background for the research project • Present evidence that the work is original • For animal research, demonstrate the requirement for using an animal model

3. Requirements for a NMCP Human Research Application • Literature Search • “demonstrate your literature search for currently published research that directly pertains to your proposal “ [background] • “This is intended to be a thoughtful search. “ • Literature Review • “The committee is interested in your interpretation of the literature that you have reviewed. “

4. Requirements for a NMCP Animal Research Application • Two literature searches • Literature Search for Duplication • Literature Search for Alternatives to Painful or Distressful Procedures • Elements for each search • Literature Source(s) Searched       • Date of Search - Period of Search •  Key Words of Search - Results of Search • Summary of the literature

5. What is a Literature Search? • a literature search is • “a systematic and thorough search of all types of published literature in order to identify as many items as possible that are relevant to a particular topic” Gash S Effective Literature Searching for Students, Gower Publishing LTD, 1989, p.1. • the literature search • reveals gaps in existing knowledge • identifies areas of consensus and debate • identifies approaches to research design and methodology • identifies other researchers in the field • clarifies future directions for research

6. Why is a Comprehensive Literature Search Important? Sound research is based on a thorough literature search and literature review.

7. Steps in the Literature Search • Define the research question • Read background material • Conduct a literature search • Review the results • Read the relevant articles • Evaluate the studies • Conduct additional literature searches

8. Searching the LiteratureLooking at the Numbers • Over 6000 biomedical journals published • More than 300 searchable databases available from commercial vendors • National Library of Medicine anticipates indexing 723,000 articles in 2011 • PubMed provides access to over 20 million citations in MEDLINE back to the 1946

9. Health Sciences Library Journals and Databases • Electronic Full-Text • over 7,000 titles online accessible from library website • passwords for specific titles • Print • approximately 200 current titles • Journal Lists available • Copies of articles in the print collection can be scanned and sent to MS Outlook

10. Where does Google fit in a literature search? • Google http://www.google.com • Rarely scholarly • Poor substitute for library reference databases • Unstable • Google Scholarhttp://scholar.google.com • searches peer-reviewed papers, books, theses, etc. • leads to fee-based online full-text websites

11. Journal Searching ~ beyond Google • MEDLINE(complete MEDLINE indexes 6000 journals) • PubMed, Ovid Online • Ovid Online(Medline, PsycInfo) • Evidence-Based Healthcare Database • Cochrane Library • EBSCOhost (CINAHL, HaPI, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Resource) • Web of Science • and over 200 databases through the Library

12. Getting Started ~Visit Library Services on the Intranet https://intranet.mar.med.navy.mil/Library/index.asp

13. Search PubMed from the Library’s website to access PubMed LinkOut • Search PubMed with links to fulltext articles (print and online) • Library’s websiteor www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?holding=vanmcplib • MD Consult • Ovid Online • EBSCOhost • Look for these icons on the Abstract display

14. Links the Library’s Collection with PubMed

15. Researcher’s Reference Toolkit http://www-nmcp.med.navy.mil/library/researcher_toolkit.asp

16. Confused or overwhelmed? Ask a Librarian for • expert literature search assistance • document delivery service • Instruction in literature searching

17. Additional Aspects to Consider • Medical or Nursing Research • expand the search to specialized databases • Federal Research • databases required by instruction: FEDRIP and more • Animal Research • databases required by instruction: Agricola, FEDRIP and more • Check with CID or the Health Sciences Library

18. Key Databases in Medicine • MEDLINE (PubMed or Ovid Online) • Web of Science • Biosis Mediated access only • Embase Mediated access only • PsycInfo (Ovid Online)

19. Key Databases in Nursing • CINAHL(Cumulated Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature)EBSCOhost • MEDLINE (PubMed or Ovid Online) • Web of Science and Social Science • ERIC Education Resources InformationCenter • Dissertation AbstractsMediated access only • PsycInfo (Ovid Online)

20. Key Databases for Federal Research • BRD DoD Biomedical Research Databasehttp://www.dtic.mil/biosys/org/brd/ • FEDRIP Federal Research in ProgressMediated access only • DTIC Online access controlledTechnical Reports, Research in Progresshttps://www.dtic.mil • RePORTER Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools http://projectreporter.nih.gov/

21. Key Databases for Animal Research • Agricolaagriculture database of National Agriculture Library http://agricola.nal.usda.gov/ • BIOSIS Mediated access onlyBiological Abstracts online • AWICAnimal Welfare Information Centerhttp://awic.nal.usda.gov

22. Read the Pertinent Literature Remember • Online full-text articles are limited • Libraries are still the best source of full-text books and journal articles • Obtain in full-text the documents you need to read for your research • Thoroughly read all papers you plan to use in your reference list

23. When is a Literature Done? McLellan F, 1966 and all that-when is a literature search done? Lancet. 2001 Aug 25;358(9282):646.

24. Keeping Organized and Current • EndNote • MyNCBI • RSS Feeds

25. Writing a Literature Review

26. Requirements for a Literature Review for Research on Human Subjects • NMCP Human Research Application • Summary of the Search [Literature Review] • “The committee is interested in your interpretation of the literature that you have reviewed. “

27. Requirements for a Literature Review for Animal Research • NMCP Animal Research Application • Summary of the Search [Literature Review]

28. What is a Literature Review? • Critique and summary of current knowledge about a research topic • Examination of studies already completed on the question • The literature review states • What is known and what remains to be learned • How the present study will contribute to existing knowledge • What methods have been identified to conduct experiments or studies

29. Keeping up with new developments and managing citations and documents • Research projects take time. Plan periodic updates of your original bibliographic research to stay abreast of developments. • RSS Feeds • My NCBI • Document and update any Internet resources • Use EndNote

30. Questions? • Searching is a skill, finding documents is often difficult, the best research is a done collaboratively • Don’t hesitate to seek assistance • Ask a Librarian • Call 3-5384 • Send a message to NMCP-LibraryServices@med.navy.mil