Applied research(Literature Review)

Assignment title
Identify with good reason a public health issue relevant to the field of nursing. Analyse and explore contemporary research literature to identify areas of health promotion for service improvement. (up to 3,000 words or more than 10% over).

Using a problem solving approach (a systematic approach to providing solutions)
Demonstrate comprehension of the wider public health agenda (show knowledge and understanding of current policy and practice)
Identify a public health issue (not about evaluating quality of care but about preventing health, illness, disease and promoting positive health and well-being)
Relevant to the field of nursing (doesn’t have to be about your field of nursing or exclusive to your field)
Analyse (you are being asked to make judgements about what you read, investigate,) using contemporary research literature (primary research articles only)
To explore areas requiring promotion of health through service improvement

Literature review plan should be in this format

INTRODICTION
What is the purpose of the essay?
Define public health, literature review
Introduce your topic and question
Briefly explain what you are going to do i.e. access and analyse relevant research literature in the field etc.
Justification for your choice e.g. scale of risks, costs to NHS (This is where you can use Gov/WHO reports
Relevance to the field of nursing

Methodology
How did you search the literature? Remember that you will need to source a minimum of 10 peer reviewed, primary research articles.
What did you use? E.g. google, University databases of literature – why?
◦ What types of literature did you exclude? Why?
Did you refine your search terms? How? Why?
How did you critically analyse the literature retrieved?
◦ What tools did you use? Evidence?
Did you compile a matrix of relevant literature that is included in appendix?
◦ If not how else did you synthesize the literature used to come up with your themes?

THEMES
Between 2 and 3 themes gives you scope to demonstrate your analysis.
You need to demonstrate skills in critical analysis, that is, what literature fits together, is their anything that doesn’t ‘fit’?
Inclusion/ exclusion – Qualitative and Quantitative, under 10 years, from first world countries, Health Policy guidelines

◦ Ask yourself are there any contradictions in the literature, or are there any gaps or weaknesses in the literature that need discussion or further analysis?
◦ Read around critical analysis to aid understanding

SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
Your improvement must follow on logically from your review, that is – what did you learn from critically analysing the literature?
Avoid generalisations e.g. more research is needed, more resources are needed, more education is needed. Use your themes to feed into and rationalise your service improvement
Try to be more focused about the improvement that you are recommending
This is another opportunity to make the topic relevant to the field of nursing and its practice improvement.

CONCLUTION/REFERENCE LIST/APPENDICES
Summarise succinctly key points learnt, linking back to original focus of literature review – your research question.
Do not introduce new information
Reference list
Appendix

Example:
• Obesity in adults with Learning disabilities
• Key search terms -Obesity, learning disabilities, life style
• Inclusion/ exclusion – Qualitative and Quantitative, under 10 years, from first world countries, Health Policy guidelines
• Search analysis – exercise and access to appropriate activities, Diet and understanding of health eating, financial burden to have access to exercise and diet.
• Thematic review of the three identified areas that came out of the literature you reviewed.
• Final part to provide an overview from the literature of improvement to practice ideas. So, think about any areas for improvement that you identified from your literature review and consider these as recommendations for service improvement

What is Public health you tube clip on health education England site.

• health protection – protecting people’s health (for example from environmental or biological threats, such as food poisoning or radiation)
• health improvement – improving people’s health (for example by helping people quit smoking or improving their living conditions)
• healthcare public health – ensuring that our health services are the most effective, most efficient and equally accessible
Link to health education England – has some useful links to achievements of initiatives which may be useful
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-public-health/what-public-health
Link below has useful links to specific areas so you can search your chosen area
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/phe-data-and-analysis-tools

Learning Disability specific link:
https://www.ndti.org.uk/our-work/our-projects/peoples-health/improving-health-and-lives-ihal/
The service areas covered so far are:
• Epilepsy
• End of life care
• Primary care
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Eye care
• Dentistry
• Cancer screening