Integrative Review

For more information on the development of the introduction, background and need, refer to Toronto & Remington, 2020, The Introduction Section of the IR

Before a clearly defined research question can be developed, the researchers must have a comprehensive understanding of the available scholarship on the phenomena of interest. What has been studied? What are researchers saying about the phenomena? What are the gaps in the research? This information is learned through a standard review of the literature. 

The introduction begins with a broad review of the literature related to the Phenomena of interest, with a definition of the concepts and background to introduce the reader to the topics to be explored, the Population to be explored and the Context. This will progress to include any existing knowledge and scholarship along with any previous research conducted on the phenomena, population and context. 

The introduction then narrows to identify the gap in the known research, in relation to the PCC which identifies the need for this review. 

The introduction will end describing the purpose of the review, why the review is being conducted and the theoretical framework which will guide the review. The final statement of the introduction will be a clear identification of the research question and how it will contribute to a better understanding of the phenomena of interest in relation to the theoretical framework. 

The purpose of an Integrative Review is to: 

• Address the current state of evidence of a particular phenomena
• Identify gaps in the research
• Determine the quality of the available evidence
• Identify future research and practice needs

The research question should then be developed to answer these questions in relation to the phenomena of interest. 

Integrative reviews use a broad question framework (PPC)  to identify the key concepts in the research question: 

P: Phenomena of Interest

P: Population 

C: Context

Each of these concepts must be clearly defined within the introduction section of the review paper. 

The research question will also help to develop the inclusion and exclusion criteria

The Theoretical Framework is used to guide the review and with a clear connection between the theory and the research question (phenomena to be explored. 

The theoretical framework is defined within the introduction and how the framework will organize the review is also provided. 

For more information about the inclusion of a theoretical framework within an Integrative Review, see Toronto & Remington, 2020 Identification of a Theoretical Framework

An example: Watson's Theory of Human Caring Science explored the phenomena of caring in the nurse-patient relationship. 

Settecase-Wu, C. A., & Whetsell, M. V. (2018). Caring in the nurse-patient relationship through the caritas lens: An integrative review. Revista Cultura del Cuidado, 15(2), 34-66. 

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: 

• Developed to define the parameters of the research question
• Determine the limits of the evidence synthesis
• Exclusion criteria must be justified
• All criteria are presented and defined within the methods section with the search strategy

Examples of Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:

• Date: generally the search for evidence in a scoping review is run for the entirety of the databases existence. However, it the review is being completed to update a previous study, the run date will begin when the last study ended. 
• Exposure of Interest: (as designated in the research question) If the review is specifically interested in the outcome related to a specific exposure, only studies evaluating that exposure will be included within the review. 
• Geographic location: Global, within the United States, urban or rural, colleges or universities, etc. 
• Language: Commonly a review will limit the studies included to those written in English due to translation issues. 
• Participants: (as designated in the research question) 
• Reported outcomes: Objective outcomes specifically related to the research question
• Setting: Clinical, hospital, lab, school, community, etc. 
• Study design
• Type of publication: Determines if the review will include only peer reviewed evidence, grey literature, dissertations, conference abstracts and papers, etc.