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3.2.4 Methods Integrative review was the methodology chosen as it allowed for a comprehensive review of literature, with a wide range of methodological designs (Whittemore & Knafl, 2005), enabling a deeper and greater understanding of the topic (Schneider, Whitehead, Elliot, LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2007). A systematic search strategy was employed to identify relevant research literature. Each retrieved study was critically appraised against recognised criteria to identify relevant and robust primary research. An assessment of the studies was made by reading, classifying, comparing, evaluating and summarising selected journal articles (Whittemore & Knafl, 2005). Relevant themes were identified through a thematic analysis of each study’s findings (Braun & Clarke, 2006). 3.2.5 Search strategy Databases CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus and PubMed were searched using the following criteria: English language and text published between 1990 and August 2013. Google Scholar was utilised to identify studies unavailable in the three databases to ensure a comprehensive and adequate search (Conn et al., 2003; Cooper, 1998; Whittemore & Knafl, 2005). The timeframe was chosen to reflect an increased interest in rural and remote nursing in Australia following the convening of the first specific rural and remote nursing conference in 1992 (Humphreys, Hegney, Lipscombe, Gregory & Chater, 2002). Upon conducting the searches it was found that, contrary to the authors’ assumption, the rural and remote nursing conference in 1992 did not stimulate research and the subsequent production of literature in the specific area of mental healthcare by generalist nurses in rural and remote settings. Interest in the area was non-existent until 2000. This absence of literature might be explained by considering the history of mental healthcare in Australia.