Desk review as a methodological approach for identifying policies and gray literature: A case study

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 NURSING

Nursing Outlook Pub Date : 2025-09-15 DOI:10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102547

Martina Barbieri MSN, RM , Gianluca Catania PhD, MSN, RN , Mark Hayter PhD, RN, MMed Sci, FRCN, FAAN , Giuseppe ALEO PhD, MA , Milko Zanini PhD, MSN, RN , Loredana Sasso MEdSc, MSN, RN , Annamaria Bagnasco PhD, MEdSc, RN

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Desk reviews are widely used in health policy research, yet standardized procedures are lacking. This becomes particularly problematic when working with regulatory and professional documents that are not indexed in academic databases, making access and analysis fragmented.

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a structured approach to conducting a desk review.

Methods

A case study is presented.

Discussion

Drawing on a three-step method—comprising an initial broad search, a targeted exploration of institutional sources, and an iterative selection and refinement process—the study offers a replicable framework to ensure rigor, transparency, and adaptability. The approach is illustrated through its application to the regulatory landscape of midwifery care in Italy, using the International Confederation of Midwives' Professional Framework as a reference for thematic analysis.

Conclusion

By outlining the methodology in detail, the paper contributes to strengthening desk review practices in health policy research and offers practical guidance for researchers working with gray literature and fragmented policy sources.

查看原文本刊更多论文

案头审查作为确定政策和灰色文献的方法论方法：一个案例研究

背景审查广泛用于卫生政策研究，但缺乏标准化程序。当处理没有在学术数据库中索引的监管和专业文档时，这就变得特别成问题，使得访问和分析变得碎片化。目的本文旨在提出一种进行案头审查的结构化方法。方法采用个案研究方法。利用三步法——包括最初的广泛搜索，对机构资源的有针对性的探索，以及迭代的选择和改进过程——研究提供了一个可复制的框架，以确保严谨性、透明度和适应性。该方法通过其在意大利助产护理监管领域的应用来说明，使用国际助产士专业框架联合会作为专题分析的参考。通过详细概述方法，本文有助于加强卫生政策研究中的案头审查实践，并为研究灰色文献和零散政策来源的研究人员提供实用指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nursing Outlook 医学-护理

CiteScore

6.20

自引率

7.00%

发文量

109

审稿时长

25 days

期刊介绍： Nursing Outlook, a bimonthly journal, provides innovative ideas for nursing leaders through peer-reviewed articles and timely reports. Each issue examines current issues and trends in nursing practice, education, and research, offering progressive solutions to the challenges facing the profession. Nursing Outlook is the official journal of the American Academy of Nursing and the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science and supports their mission to serve the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. The journal is included in MEDLINE, CINAHL and the Journal Citation Reports published by Clarivate Analytics.