Capstone Systematic Literature Review
Capstone Systematic Literature Review Criteria
-Must use the attached articles plus any additional references needed
-Use attached documents for reference
-Add attached PICO, EAL worksheets, and Summary Table
The paper should meet the following criteria:
• Double spaced
• Not less than 12-point font size. (Calibri or Arial acceptable)
• Add page number at the bottom right-hand corner of each page
• 10-15 pages in length including references but not the Appendix
• American Medical Association (AMA) reference style
The following suggestions for length may not always be appropriate but may be used as a guide:
• Title Page – 1 page (Name, Class, Date, PICO Question)
• Abstract – 250 words – 1 page (Abstract as the header; structured abstract with headings (Purpose, Methods, Results, Conclusion/Implications)
• Introduction – 1 to 2 pages (continue from abstract)
o Background
o Purpose (your PICO question) with Hypothesis
• Methods – 1 – 2 pages
o Details on the approach used for literature search
? Inclusion and exclusion criteria
? Databases that were used and search terms
? Method used for selecting studies
o Data collection process: how was data extracted e.g. only studies that included the dietary guidelines were included
o Describe methods for assessing bias
o Describe main outcomes. See any one of the samples provided
• Results – 2-3 pages
o Numbers of studies screened, assessed for eligibility and included in the review with reasons for exclusion
? Flow diagram of study selection process (see Figure 1 in DASH paper).
o Include summary of the Evidence Analysis ratings (e.g. six positive, two neutral, one negative – based on your ratings assigned in the summary table) and
the numbers of the types of studies included.
o Include summary for all studies identifying characteristics of the data extracted (study size, PICO outcomes)
o Give brief summary of individual studies.
• Discussion and Conclusion 2 – 3 pages
o Discuss strengths and limitations of the studies
o Give summary conclusion based on results with grade assigned.
o Summarize findings that develop/support of conclusion
o Reject or accept the hypothesis
o Provide a general interpretation of the results in context and implications for future studies. ?
• References – appx. 2 pages
o Include all studies reviewed and any additional supporting references used in the paper.
o References are defined as scientific (original) publications, not textbook references, not book citations, not website references. Exception: website
references can be used to locate statistics, e.g. CDC prevalence of obesity, for inclusion in your introduction only.
o AMA reference style for both in-text citations and bibliography. https://www.lib.jmu.edu/citation/amaguide.pdf
• Appendix
o This should be a separate dividing page after the references. List on the first page of the appendix the appendix letter and the topic.
o Include the following in the appendix:
? Table - Summary of Evidence – in Landscape (not portrait)
? PICO Worksheet of approved topic
? Other tables as appropriate