Table 1.
Article identification process
| Process | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sampling strategy |
Selective: Sample databases from medicine, nursing, allied health and social science fields within specified limits |
| Type of study |
All qualitative research (grounded theory, ethnography, action research, exploratory approaches, phenomenology), quantitative research (randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies, uncontrolled before and after studies) and systematic reviews |
| Approaches |
Subject searches, citation searches, contact with authors |
| Range of years |
Beginning of 1999 to end of 2009. Updated in 2013 to include beginning of 2010 to end of 2013. |
| Language |
English |
| Inclusion and exclusionsa |
Inclusion: Empirical research study of an intervention aimed at supportingb health professionals; involves rural and remote populations; report evidence of outcomes related to staff, service or patients. |
| Exclusion: No abstract for review, article is a commentary piece, or editorial. | |
| Terms used |
Mentor + health + rural OR remote |
| Professional support + health + rural OR remote | |
| Supervision + health + rural OR remote | |
| Professional development + health + rural OR remote | |
| Continuing professional education + health + rural OR remote | |
| Continuing medical education + health + rural OR remote | |
| Preceptorship + health + rural OR remote | |
| Medical + supervision + rural OR remote | |
| Allied health + rural OR remote | |
| Electronic sources | CINAHL Plus, EBSCOhost Health, Informit, MEDLINE OvidSP, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Knowledge, BioMed Central |
aDetailed in the decision tree of Table 2; bsupport refers to professional development, supervision, mentoring, continuing education, assistance, encouragement and resources that contribute to clinical practice, service delivery and staff satisfaction.