Meeting the review family : exploring review types and associated information retrieval requirements

Background and objectives The last decade has witnessed increased recognition of the value of literature reviews for advancing understanding and decision making. This has been accompanied by an expansion in the range of methodological approaches and types of review. However, there remains uncertainty over definitions and search requirements beyond those for the ‘traditional’ systematic review. This study aims to characterise health related reviews by type and to provide recommendations on appropriate methods of information retrieval based on the available guidance. Methods A list of review types was generated from published typologies and categorised into ‘families’ based on their common features. Guidance on information retrieval for each review type was identified by searching pubmed, medline and Google Scholar, supplemented by scrutinising websites of review producing organisations. Results Forty‐eight review types were identified and categorised into seven families. Published guidance reveals increasing specification of methods for information retrieval; however, much of it remains generic with many review types lacking explicit requirements for the identification of evidence. Conclusions Defining review types and utilising appropriate search methods remain challenging. By familiarising themselves with a range of review methodologies and associated search methods, information specialists will be better equipped to select suitable approaches for future projects

Taking stock of 10 years of published research on the ASHA programme: Examining India’s national community health worker programme from a health systems perspective

Background: As India’s accredited social health activist (ASHA) community health worker (CHW) programme enters its second decade, we take stock of the research undertaken and whether it examines the health systems interfaces required to sustain the programme at scale. Methods: We systematically searched three databases for articles on ASHAs published between 2005 and 2016. Articles that met the inclusion criteria underwent analysis using an inductive CHW–health systems interface framework. Results: A total of 122 academic articles were identified (56 quantitative, 29 mixed methods, 28 qualitative, and 9 commentary or synthesis); 44 articles reported on special interventions and 78 on the routine ASHA program. Findings on special interventions were overwhelmingly positive, with few negative or mixed results. In contrast, 55% of articles on the routine ASHA programme showed mixed findings and 23% negative, with few indicating overall positive findings, reflecting broader system constraints. Over half the articles had a health system perspective, including almost all those on general ASHA work, but only a third of those with a health condition focus. The most extensively researched health systems topics were ASHA performance, training and capacity-building, with very little research done on programme financing and reporting, ASHA grievance redressal or peer communication. Research tended to be descriptive, with fewer influence, explanatory or exploratory articles, and no predictive or emancipatory studies. Indian institutions and authors led and partnered on most of the research, wrote all the critical commentaries, and published more studies with negative results. Conclusion: Published work on ASHAs highlights a range of small-scale innovations, but also showcases the challenges faced by a programme at massive scale, situated in the broader health system. As the programme continues to evolve, critical comparative research that constructively feeds back into programme reforms is needed, particularly related to governance, intersectoral linkages, ASHA solidarity, and community capacity to provide support and oversight

Public health papers and reports.

List of members in v. 5-6, 9, 11-33.Vol. 33, pt. 2, vols. 34-36 are reprints from the American journal of public hygiene; vol. 37 from American journal of public health.Presented at the [1st]-39th annual meeting of the American pulic health assoiationVols. 30-37, 1905-1912, each issued in two parts, with separate title pages and independent paging. The second part consists of papers presented to the Laboratory Section.List of members in v. 5-6, 9, 11-33.Vol. 33, pt. 2, vols. 34-36 are reprints from the American journal of public hygiene; vol. 37 from American journal of public health.Mode of access: Internet

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

This series of Proceedings is independent of the earlier one of the same title, published in 3 parts, 1877-95.Some issues accompanied by supplements with distinctive titles.Mode of access: Internet.Vols. 1- issued by the Academy under a variant name: National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.Split into: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Biological sciences, ISSN 0273-1134; and: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Physical sciences, ISSN 0273-1142

The Eugenics review.

Vols. for Apr. 1909- published: Adelphi, London : Eugenics Education Society; -Dec. 1968 : Edinburgh : Oliver and Boyd Ltd.Title from cover.Mode of access: Internet.Vols. for 1909-1925 issued by the Eugenics Education Society; 1926-1968 by the Eugenics Society.Author and subject indexes: Vols. 1 (1909)-60 (1968) as v. 60., no. 4

British and foreign medico-chirurgical review : or, Quarterly journal of practial medicine and surgery.

Mode of access: Internet.A consolidation of the British and foreign medical review with the Medico-chirurgical review

Journal of anatomy and physiology.

v. 50 (1916

The Hospital and health review.

Vol. 71-73 called also new ser., v. 1-3.Mode of access: Internet