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Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

In addition to the basics of EBP and PICO, this guide answers questions about primary vs. secondary sources, where to look for evidence, and how to search to get the best results.

What Is a Literature Review?

Woman's holding a colored pencil over a paper heavily edited in red.What a Literature Review Is:

  • A critical evaluation of what's already been written on a particular topic 
  • Either a stand-alone work or the introduction to a larger research paper, depending on the assignment (rely heavily on the guidelines your instructor has given you)

What a Literature Review Is Not:

  • A list or summary of sources
  • An annotated bibliography
  • A grouping of broad, unrelated sources
  • A compilation of everything that has been written on a particular topic
  • Literary criticism (think English literature) or a book review

Why Literature Reviews Are Important

  • They explain the background of research on a topic
  • They demonstrate why a topic is significant to a subject area
  • They discover relationships between research studies/ideas
  • They identify major themes, concepts, and researchers on a topic
  • They identify critical gaps and points of disagreement
  • They discuss further research questions that logically come out of the previous studies

How the Literature Review Fits into EBP

Prepare for the Literature Review

  1. Identify and explore a problem
  2. Write a research question
  3. Determine your review's scope

Conduct the Literature Review

  1. Select databases and conduct searches
  2. Appraise and summarize the evidence
  3. Organize the data and synthesize the findings
  4. Record best evidence recommendations

Translate the Evidence Into Practice

  1. Assess the risk, fit, feasibility, and acceptability of best evidence recommendations
  2. Identify practice-setting specific recommendations
  3. Identify an implementation framework and create an implementation/action plan
  4. Implement
  5. Monitor sustainability and identify next steps

Keep Track of Your Sources!

A citation manager can be helpful way to work with large numbers of citations. See UMSL Libraries' Citing Sources guide for more information. Personally, I highly recommend Zotero—it's free, easy to use, and versatile. If you need help getting started with Zotero or one of the other citation managers, please contact a librarian.

Helpful Books

Health Sciences Literature Review Made Easy

(3 copies) A practical, step-by-step set of instructions for how to organize, conduct, and write a synthesis of literature on a topic of the reader's choice. Includes the Matrix Method, developed by the author, which outlines one of the many ways to approach a literature review.

Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model

(Unlimited copies) One of the most foundational books on EBP in nursing and healthcare. The revamped, simplified model features updates to the categories of evidence and appraisal tools, with an emphasis on using suitable pre-appraised evidence.

Workbook for Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model

(Unlimited copies) Offers resources and learning activities to deepen understanding of the content and provide additional perspectives.

Literature Review and Synthesis

(1 copy) Focusing on the significance of synthesis as a critical component of the literature review process, this book walks readers through each step of completing an exemplary literature review and synthesis.

References

Aveyard, H. (2014). Doing a literature review in health and social care : A practical guide (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Bettany-Saltikov, J. (2012). How to do a systematic literature review in nursing : A step-by-step guide. McGraw-Hill Education.

Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2025). EBP project steps and overview. In Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model and guidelines. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Coughlan, M., & Cronin, P. (2017). Doing a literature review in nursing, health and social care (2nd ed.). SAGE.

University of Western Florida. (n.d.). Literature review: Conducting & writing. Retrieved October 20, 2020, from https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215199&p=1420475