A critical process: developing skills in conducting a critical review of the literature.

Abstract

White & Taylor (2002) suggest that for many years, the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC), has sought to promote the development of research knowledge and skills in Registered nurses. One aspect of this is the critical review of published literature. This can be viewed as an activity which spans across both undergraduate and post graduate work (Morris & Maynard 2000). It has also been suggested that such skills are necessary attributes of independent learning (Patterson et al., 2002). However, there is a view that constructing a critical review of published literature is challenging and that it can present difficulties for students (Carnwell & Daly 2001). This view supports expert opinion within the School of Health, where academics have identified that student nurses appear to experience difficulties in some or all of the stages of the process of critically reviewing published literature.

The aim of the project was to develop an online study package for student nurses and midwives, aimed at developing skills in conducting a critical review of literature. The outcome of the project is the development of an interactive topic within the university virtual learning environment, Wolverhampton On-line Learning Framework (WOLF) which focuses on the stages of conducting a critical review of published articles.