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Key Points
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What is a Literature Review?
A literature review is different to an essay. It provides a snapshot of what we know about the research on a particular topic. The author is required to do a comprehensive search of relevant and recent literature (journal articles, text books, websites) to identify what is known about a topic. The main themes are then identified and crtically analysed. A literature review should cover:
What are the steps to write a literature review?
Adapted from Scribbr. Click here to learn more
Organising Body Paragraphs
Do not arrange by articles.
Arrange by themes and ideas across the articles.
Adapted From:
Rathnayake, D., Clarke, M., & Jayasinghe, V. I. (2021). Health system performance and health system preparedness for the post-pandemic impact of COVID-19: A review. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 14(1), 250–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/20479700.2020.1836732
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Waiting times for elective surgeries have become a major policy concern in many countries with health systems operated with public funds (Siciliani & Hurst, 2005). The burdens on hospital systems during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused waiting times for elective surgeries to increase dramatically over the past few years. Some authors have recommended systems to prioritize patients who are on the waiting list and to re-order the queue on long waiting lists for elective surgery to reduce the adverse effects of waiting (Ng & Lundstrom, 2014; Curtis et al., 2010). Alternative suggestions include temporary expansion of facilities or reverse triage strategies (Rathnayake et al., 2019). However, despite many discussions about the need to shorten these long waiting lists for elective surgeries, the problem has not been resolved and further research is needed to establish best practices for overburdened health systems post pandemic. |
One main idea introduced in the paragraph: waiting time for elective surgery.
Synthesis findings from many sources and references.
Contrasts the findings of one paper with another pointing out alternatives.
Identifies the need for future research.
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There are also important concerns about the safety and treatment for people in vulnerable groups. The potential risks of the COVID-19 outbreak for pregnant women has also become a major concern, not limited to the unknown risk of vertical transmission of the virus (Qiao, 2020). The use of lockdowns as a public health strategy has been used earlier in epidemics in some West African countries (Gostin & Friendman, 2015). Quarantining of people, with lock down of geographic areas has exposed vulnerable populations to extraordinary stressful situations, making them prone to various mental and psychological problems (Xiao, 2019). This might further increase the existing burden on healthcare systems (Chen et al., 2020). |
First sentence introduces the main theme of the article (impacts COVID on vulnerable people )
The focus is on research with several studies cited.
The writer has used multiple references to show agreement in the literature |
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Referring to sources |
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Much of the current literature on X pays particular attention to … Author: reported / identified / showed that /demonstrated that … |
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Comparing and contrasting |
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Other writers have argued that … |
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Discussing findings |
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One interesting finding is … This finding is consistent with that of Smith (2000) who … Future research: Despite these promising results, questions remain. |
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Being Critical |
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Such approaches, however, have failed to address … The research to date has tended to focus on X rather than However, the main weakness of the study is the failure to address how … However, such explanations tend to overlook the fact that … Jones (2003) has challenged some of Smith’s conclusions, arguing that … |
