Chapter 1: Introduction (approx. 500 words)
o Background and Rationale
▪ Incidence / Prevalence
▪ Current guidelines / practice
▪ What is missing / what needs to be improved?
o Aims and Objectives
▪ 1 aim (What does the dissertation want to discover) and usually 3 or 4
objectives (measurable goals to evaluate your study)
Chapter 2: Methodology (Search Methodology / Parameters) (approx. 500 words)
▪ Search criteria / search terms / Key words identified
▪ Info about databases
▪ Types of papers – qualitative / quantitative
▪ Inclusion / exclusion criteria
▪ Date limits (and rationale why)
▪ Databases you used (PRISMA tool)
▪ How were articles appraised?
o This chapter explains how you found your evidence from identifying the
keywords, through the initial number of articles found through the process of how
you reduced this down to your final 8 – 12 articles. You need to provide a
rationale/evidence for your actions.
o Remember your markers should be able to follow and replicate your
literature search
Chapter 3: Critical Review of the Literature (approx. 4 – 4,500 words)
o Theme 1
o This is not a description of your articles it is a literature review of your theme. The
focus is upon a critical discussion of the findings of your matrix articles and the
wider evidence of that theme. It also includes critical discussion of aspects of
some of the methodologies used in the matrix articles.
o Theme 2
▪ Repeat
o Theme 3
▪ Repeat
Chapter 4:
o Conclusion – Your conclusion evaluates the evidence presented in chapter 3 by
evaluating your objectives and determining whether your aim has been achieved
(approx. 500 words)
o Implications and recommendations for future practice – What do the findings
from chapter 3 mean for future clinical practice/ (approx. 500 words)
