Instructions on Conducting Literature Reviews
In the realm of healthcare, mental health, and psychology, the importance of evidence-based practice cannot be overstated. Recently, various types of reviews have emerged as crucial components in this field, each offering unique insights tailored to specific research needs.
One such type is the Systematic Review, which provides a rigorous, transparent, and replicable summary of all relevant empirical studies addressing a clearly formulated question. These reviews use explicit methods to identify, select, appraise, and synthesize research, often including meta-analysis, to produce reliable evidence that supports clinical decision-making and policy development [1][5]. For instance, systematic reviews in healthcare evaluate the effectiveness and harms of interventions, guiding treatment recommendations and health policies [3].
On the other hand, Narrative Reviews offer a more flexible, interpretive synthesis when empirical research is scarce, fragmented, or heterogeneous. They integrate findings from diverse disciplines and help generate conceptual frameworks or hypotheses for future study. Unlike systematic reviews, they do not require narrowly defined questions or strict inclusion criteria but must still maintain transparency and a clear methodological rationale [2].
A third type, Realist Reviews (though not directly outlined in the search results, but known from evidence-based practice literature), focus on understanding how and why complex interventions work (or do not) in particular contexts by exploring underlying mechanisms and contextual factors. This approach is valuable in healthcare and psychology where interventions interact with variable social or psychological environments, needing insight beyond "what works" to "what works for whom under what circumstances."
A recent study, "Narrative Diaries in Pediatrics: A Scoping Review" by Sansone et al. (2021), explores the use of health diaries with both clinical and narrative elements in pediatrics. The review suggests that narrative health diaries are valuable for capturing children's experiences with illness and daily life, and have broad applicability in pediatric care. The study found that, in 50% of cases, children or adolescents are the primary diary writers, with diaries mostly kept at home, hospitals, and schools.
Meanwhile, the systematic review titled "Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Lay Health Worker Programmes to Improve Access to Maternal and Child Health" examines qualitative studies to identify factors influencing the success and sustainability of lay health worker programs. The study found that trust, respect, and support from health systems and local authorities, and key motivators and challenges faced by lay health workers are important factors in the implementation of lay health worker programs.
In a separate narrative literature study, "Exploring Adolescents' Perspectives on Social Media and Mental Health and Well-being - A Qualitative Literature Review," adolescents' views on the effects of social media on their mental health and well-being were examined. The study found that social media can contribute to poor mental health through the pursuit of validation, fear of judgment, body comparison, addiction, and cyberbullying.
Another systematic review, "Correlates and Consequences of Internalized Stigma for People Living with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," examines studies on the relationships between internalized stigma and various factors such as demographics, psychosocial aspects, and psychiatric symptoms. The study found that internalized stigma negatively affects hope, self-esteem, and self-determination, and is associated with worsening psychiatric symptoms and treatment adherence.
It's worth noting that none of these studies examined the impact on patient outcomes. However, the collective findings from these reviews enrich evidence-based practice by providing robust, interpretable, and context-sensitive understandings that inform clinical practice, policymaking, and further research within healthcare, mental health, and psychology.
References: [1] Marksman Healthcare, Systematic Literature Reviews (2025) [2] PMC, Systematic and Narrative Review (2025) [3] University of Melbourne Guide on Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (2025) [4] Frontiers in Psychology, Meta-analytic Systematic Reviews (2025) [5] University of Texas Systematic Reviews Guide (2025)
- The "Exploring Adolescents' Perspectives on Social Media and Mental Health and Well-being - A Qualitative Literature Review" falls under the category of 'Narrative Reviews', offering interpretive insights into adolescents' views on the impact of social media on their mental health and well-being.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development and learning, a systematic review like the "Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Lay Health Worker Programmes to Improve Access to Maternal and Child Health" could serve as a valuable resource, providing evidence-based insights into factors influencing the success and sustainability of such programs.
