Use APA 7 style to plan, search, appraise, synthesize, and format a medical literature review with clear headings, in-text citations, and a reference list.
Writing a medical lit review with APA 7 isn’t just formatting. It’s a workflow. Start by setting the goal and scope, build a search plan, screen studies with care, and synthesize what the evidence shows. Then shape the paper using APA’s headings, in-text citations, and reference rules. The guide below walks you through the whole job, with quick builders, citation patterns, and edit-ready checklists.
Writing A Medical Literature Review In APA Style: Step-By-Step
This section maps the full path, from question to clean manuscript. Skim the steps first, then dive deeper with the mini-guides that follow.
| Stage | Goal | Output You Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Define The Question | Pin down population, exposure/intervention, comparator, and outcomes. | One-sentence aim; inclusion/exclusion bullets. |
| Plan The Search | Pick databases and terms; set date ranges and study types. | Saved strategies; search log with dates. |
| Screen Studies | Remove duplicates; apply criteria to titles/abstracts, then full texts. | Screening spreadsheet; reasons for exclusion. |
| Appraise Quality | Judge risk of bias and methods strength for each study. | Appraisal notes; tool used and ratings. |
| Extract And Synthesize | Pull key data; group findings by theme or outcome. | Extraction table; summary of themes/effects. |
| Write With APA 7 | Structure sections and cite sources correctly. | Draft in APA format; reference list built as you go. |
| Report And Refine | Show methods clearly; polish wording, tables, and flow. | Final checks; clean figures/tables; ready file. |
Set A Clear Scope And Review Type
Start with a crisp aim. Narrow scope beats a sprawling topic. Decide whether you’re writing a narrative review, a scoping review, or a full systematic review. A narrative piece can scan broader ground but still needs a transparent method. A systematic review needs a protocol, strict screening, and a reporting checklist.
If you’re producing a health-focused systematic review, many teams use the PRISMA 2020 checklist to report methods and selection flow. It keeps the review traceable and reproducible, which readers and journals value. Link the checklist in your notes and mirror its items while drafting.
Build A Search Strategy That Can Be Repeated
Pick your databases first. Mix at least one broad index with a field-specific source. Common pairs include MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. Add keywords and controlled vocabulary (MeSH/Emtree) for each concept in your question. Use Boolean logic (AND/OR/NOT) and filters for dates, language, and study design.
Save each query string. Export search results and keep the raw files. Record the date you ran each search. That small habit saves hours when you update or peer reviewers ask about details.
Screen And Select Studies With Consistent Rules
Deduplicate first. Then screen titles and abstracts against your inclusion and exclusion bullets. Move to full-text screening only when a study looks eligible or unclear. Keep a sheet of exclusion reasons like “wrong population” or “not peer reviewed.” That sheet feeds your flow diagram and helps anyone retrace your steps.
Appraise The Evidence Before You Summarize It
Quality appraisal isn’t busywork. It shapes how much weight you give each result. Use a tool that fits the design: RCT tools for trials, cohort tools for observational data, and so on. Note randomization, blinding, confounding control, outcome measurement, and attrition. Capture the verdict in a short phrase next to each study: low, some concerns, or high risk of bias.
Extract Data And Synthesize Findings
Pull author, year, setting, sample size, design, exposure/intervention, comparators, outcomes, measures, and main results. Add any caveats the authors disclose. Then synthesize. You can group by outcome, patient subgroup, intervention type, or signal strength. If studies line up on design and measures, consider a meta-analysis; otherwise, write a clear narrative synthesis with tables that line up outcomes side by side.
Use APA 7 Structure For A Clean Manuscript
APA 7 offers five heading levels and a consistent page setup. Use title case and bold for headings. Start each main section at Level 1, even if some sections have fewer sublevels than others. Keep line spacing double throughout, including the reference list and tables. Use a readable font like 12-pt Times New Roman or 11-pt Calibri, standard margins, and running page numbers.
Title Page And Abstract
Your title should be specific and plain. Add a short running head only if the target journal asks for one. Student papers place the course and instructor on the title page; professional papers list author note details when required. Write a structured abstract that hits the aim, data sources, selection, synthesis approach, and main takeaways. Keep it within the word limit set by your venue.
Headings That Map The Review
Use this flow as a starting point: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References. Under Methods, add subheads for Search Strategy, Eligibility Criteria, Screening And Selection, Data Extraction, and Quality Appraisal. Under Results, add Study Selection, Study Characteristics, and Findings By Outcome. That layout matches reader expectations and keeps your argument easy to scan.
In-Text Citations
Citations in APA 7 use author-date. One or two authors list all names each time. Three or more use the first author plus “et al.” from the first citation. Direct quotes need page or paragraph numbers. Paraphrases don’t require a page, but adding one can help when pointing to specific lines.
Reference List Basics
Every in-text cite appears in the reference list, and every reference has an in-text cite. Use hanging indents, double spacing, and sentence case for article titles. Journal names keep title case and italics. Include DOIs as clickable links when available. When an article lacks a DOI but has a stable URL from the publisher, include that link.
Mini Style Guides For Key Sections
Introduction
State the clinical or public health problem. Explain why a review is needed now. End with the aim and the type of review. Keep it lean; save detail for Methods.
Methods
Report databases, date ranges, search strings or a sample query, eligibility bullets, screening process, duplicate handling, and any tools used for appraisal. If you followed a checklist, mention it. If a protocol exists, link it.
Results
Lead with a brief count of records found, screened, excluded, and included. Then describe study features and the main outcomes. Use tables to line up key numbers. Keep the story tight and neutral.
Discussion
Sum up what the evidence suggests, note gaps, and set practical takeaways. Flag limits such as small samples or heterogeneity. Suggest the next clear step for practice or research.
APA 7 Heading Patterns You Can Copy
These patterns match Level 1–3 headings many reviews need. Adjust as your content grows.
- Level 1: Centered, bold, title case. Text starts as a new paragraph.
- Level 2: Flush left, bold, title case. Text starts as a new paragraph.
- Level 3: Flush left, bold italic, title case. Text starts as a new paragraph.
If your paper needs deeper nesting, Levels 4 and 5 are available. Keep usage consistent from section to section.
Quick Builder: Common Medical Source Citations
Use these patterns to speed up drafting. Swap in your details and keep punctuation exact.
| Source Type | In-Text Pattern | Reference Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Journal Article (One–Two Authors) | (Nguyen & Lee, 2023) | Nguyen, A., & Lee, P. (2023). Article title. Journal Name, 12(3), 111–120. https://doi.org/xxxxx |
| Journal Article (Three+ Authors) | (Patel et al., 2022) | Patel, R., Kim, S., Gomez, L., & Chen, M. (2022). Article title. Journal Name, 8(2), 45–60. https://doi.org/xxxxx |
| Guideline Or Checklist | (Group Name, Year) | Group Name. (Year). Title of guideline. Publisher. URL |
| Website Page | (Agency, Year) | Agency. (Year, Month Day). Page title. Site Name. URL |
| Systematic Review | (Surname et al., Year) | Surname, A., Surname, B., & Surname, C. (Year). Review title. Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx |
Tables And Figures In APA
Number tables and figures in the order they appear. Give each a short, clear title in italics above the item. Add notes under a table if you need to explain abbreviations or measures. Keep layout simple: no vertical lines, minimal shading, and units labeled on the first line of a column. When a table duplicates text, trim the paragraph instead of the table; readers skim tables to get the gist fast.
Model Outline You Can Adapt
Here’s a ready outline you can paste into your draft. Change labels to fit your topic and depth.
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Search Strategy
- Eligibility Criteria
- Screening And Selection
- Data Extraction
- Quality Appraisal
- Results
- Study Selection
- Study Characteristics
- Findings By Outcome
- Discussion
- Summary Of Evidence
- Limits
- Implications
- References
- Tables And Figures
Style Details That Save Revisions
Numbers, Abbreviations, And Tense
Use numerals for 10 and above; spell out one through nine unless paired with a unit or label that expects a numeral. Define any abbreviation at first use, then use the short form. Keep past tense for methods and results of included studies; present tense fits general statements and your own discussion points.
Quotations And Paraphrases
Short quotes up to 39 words sit in the paragraph with quotation marks. Add the page or paragraph number. Longer quotes set off as block quotes without quotation marks; still give the page range. Paraphrasing is usually better in a review, since it lets you weave sources together.
Bias-Aware Language
Use person-first phrasing unless a group prefers identity-first wording. Be precise about age groups, diagnoses, and measures. Avoid loaded terms; plain, neutral wording helps readers trust the review.
Method Transparency: Borrow What Works
Many reviewers model reporting on an established checklist so readers can see each step. Health reviews often mirror PRISMA’s items for selection flow, search details, and synthesis choices. Even if your review is narrative, adding a short selection flow and a compact methods table boosts clarity and trims peer-review rounds.
APA 7 Formatting Shortcuts
- Set double spacing across the file, including tables and references.
- Use 1-inch margins, page numbers in the header, and a clear font.
- Keep title case and bold for headings; don’t invent extra styles.
- Add a hanging indent to the reference list (0.5 inch).
- Insert DOIs as live links; prefer the https://doi.org/ format.
Reference List: Fast Patterns You’ll Use Often
Journal article with a DOI: Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Guideline or checklist: Group Name. (Year). Title of document. Publisher. URL
Database page or web guidance: Agency Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL
Common Pitfalls And Easy Fixes
- Vague aim: Rewrite the aim as one sentence with population and outcome.
- Missing method detail: Add databases, dates, a sample query, and inclusion bullets.
- Mixed citation styles: Scan for ampersands, commas, and et al. spacing; keep one style.
- Bloated tables: Drop decorative lines; keep three or fewer columns and direct labels.
- Shaky claims: Tie claims to specific studies and show limits near the claim, not pages later.
Final Pass Checklist Before You Submit
Run through this short list to tighten the paper and avoid desk rejects.
- Headings match the section content and appear in the right order.
- Every citation has a matching reference; every reference appears in text.
- Figures and tables are called out in the text near their first appearance.
- Abstract includes aim, sources, selection, synthesis, and main takeaways.
- Limits are explicit and sit near the discussion of results.
- File passes a spellcheck and a quick read on a phone screen.
Where To Check Specific Rules Fast
When you need a precise heading style or a tricky citation pattern, go straight to the source. Review the official page on APA heading levels and the in-text citation overview. If you’re reporting a full systematic review in medicine, load the PRISMA 2020 checklist and align your Methods and Results with it. Linking these pages in your notes makes future updates painless.