Selective review of literature that broadly covers a specific topic?

AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)

Nursing Research & Statistics (E5)

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

A narrative review, also known as a traditional review, is a qualitative summary of literature on a broad topic.
It does not follow a strict, systematic search protocol, which makes the selection of included studies subjective and 'selective'.
The primary goal is to provide a broad overview or background on a subject, rather than answering a specific, focused question.
This type of review is useful for identifying gaps in knowledge but has a higher risk of bias compared to systematic reviews.

Option B: A meta-analysis is a statistical method used to combine and analyze the results of multiple quantitative studies. It is not a broad or selective review; rather, it is a highly specific and quantitative component of a systematic review.
Option C: A systematic review is the opposite of a selective review. It uses explicit, rigorous, and reproducible methods to identify, appraise, and synthesize all available evidence on a very specific and focused research question.
Option D: A meta-synthesis is a method for integrating and interpreting findings from multiple qualitative studies. Like a systematic review, it follows a rigorous process and is not a broad, selective overview of a topic.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of literature reviews in nursing research as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the different types of literature reviews is fundamental for evidence-based practice (EBP). Nurses must be able to critically appraise the quality of evidence to make informed clinical decisions.
When seeking evidence to change a clinical practice, a nurse should prioritize systematic reviews and meta-analyses over narrative reviews because they provide a more comprehensive and less biased summary of the available research.
What if a nurse needs to quickly get a general understanding of a newly emerging health issue? In this case, a narrative review would be a practical starting point, even if it's not the highest level of evidence, because it provides a broad context quickly.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key descriptive words in the question: 'selective' and 'broadly covers'.
Analyze the meaning of each option. 'Systematic', 'meta-analysis', and 'meta-synthesis' all imply a rigorous, methodical, and focused process, which contradicts the term 'selective'.
A 'systematic review' aims to be comprehensive, not selective, to answer a narrow question.
A 'meta-analysis' is a statistical procedure for quantitative data, not a broad review type itself.
A 'meta-synthesis' is a rigorous integration of qualitative studies.
A 'narrative review' is known for being a descriptive, author-driven summary of a topic, which aligns perfectly with 'selective' and 'broadly covers'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 1 p. 115-117

E6 NursingResearch Polit 11e Part 2 p. 242-244

E6 NursingResearch Polit 11e Part 1 p. 40-42