An integrative review is a specific review method that summarises past empirical or theoretical literature to provide a greater comprehensive understanding of a particular phenomenon or healthcare problem (Broome 1993). Thus, integrative reviews have the potential to build upon nursing science, informing research, practice, and policy initiatives. 

When to Use It: According to Toronto, C., & Remington, R.(2020), Whitmore et al. (2005), Broome (1993): an integrative review approach is best suited for:

• A research scope focused more broadly at a phenomenon of interest rather than a systematic review and allows for diverse research, which may contain theoretical and methodological literature to address the aim of the review

• Supporting a wide range of inquiry, such as defining concepts, reviewing theories, or analyzing methodological issues

• Examining the complexity of nursing practice more broadly by using diverse data sources

The following characteristics, strengths, and challenges of integrative reviews are derived from Toronto, C., & Remington, R.(2020), Whitmore et al. (2005), Broome (1993):

Characteristics:

• A review method that summarises past empirical or theoretical literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a particular phenomenon or healthcare problem

• An integrative review is best designed for nursing practice

• The problem must be clearly defined

• The aim of the review is to analyze experimental and non-experimental research simultaneously in order to:

  • Define concepts

  • Review theories

  • Review evidence/point out gaps in the literature

  • Analyze methodological issues

Strengths:

• Best designed for nursing research

• Evidence produced from well-conducted integrative reviews contributes to nursing knowledge by clarifying phenomena, which in turn informs nursing practice and clinical practice guidelines

Challenges:

• The combination and complexity of incorporating diverse methodologies can contribute to a lack of rigour, inaccuracy, and bias

• Methods of analysis, synthesis, and conclusion-drawing remain poorly formulated

• Combining empirical and theoretical reports can be difficult

• There is no current guidance on reporting

The following resources are considered to be the best guidance for conduct in the field of integrative reviews.

METHODS & GUIDANCE

• Hopia, H., Latvala, E., & Liimatainen, L. (2016). Reviewing the methodology of an integrative review. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 30(4), 662–669. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12327

• Russell C. L. (2005). An overview of the integrative research review. Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), 15(1), 8–13

• Toronto, & Remington, R. (2020). A Step-By-Step Guide to Conducting an Integrative Review (1st ed.). Springer International Publishing AG.

• Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: updated methodology. Journal of advanced nursing, 52(5), 546–553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x

REPORTING GUIDELINE

There is currently no reporting guideline for integrative reviews.