Why use literature reviews in health and social care? is a free course which introduces and explains how literature reviews can support evidence-based practice in health and social care. A literature review can offer a systematic way in which to sift through information to produce relevant existing knowledge and discern knowledge gaps. This short course explores different examples of the use of literature reviews that have informed policy and practice; social work with older people, cessation of cigarette smoking in pregnant women and use of mindfulness therapy with respect to older people with dementia and their carers.This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course K323 Investigating health and social care.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Information overload?
- 1 Information overload?
- 2 Using evidence in practice
- 2 Using evidence in practice
- 3 How literature reviews can shape policy and practice
- 3 How literature reviews can shape policy and practice
- 4 Policy or practice focus, or a mixture?
- 4 Policy or practice focus, or a mixture?
- 4.1 Policy focus: Jean’s literature review
- 4.2 Policy and practice focus: Julie’s literature review
- 4.3 Practice focus: Adele’s literature review
- 5 End-of-course quiz
- 5 End-of-course quiz
- Conclusion
- Glossary
- References
- Acknowledgements
