Literature searching: Introduction

Extensive online resources on how to search the literature

• Choosing a database
• How to search:
  • Medline (Ovid) - do this first - includes key techniques relevant to most databases
  • Embase (Ovid)
  • Emcare (Ovid)
  • APA PsycInfo (Ovid)
  • CINAHL (EBSCOhost)
  • Cochrane Library (Wiley)
  • Ovid Nursing
  • Informit Health Collection (RMIT)
• Text mining - researching search terms for difficult topics
• Using 'limits' - and how to exclude animal studies
• Translating search strategies to other databases - Polyglot Search Translator
• Recording your search methodology
• Finding full text PDFs using EndNote
• Systematic reviews

Individual search tutorials for SVHM staff (login required): 

• 1 hour tutorials online via Zoom or face to face in the Library dependent on current restrictions
• Learn to search Ovid Medline with a topic of your choice
• Can include information on record keeping for systematic reviews
• Please note that tutorials are designed to teach you generic literature searching skills. With the exception of co-authorship, library staff do not design final search strategies for a systematic review which takes considerably longer to refine. 
• Email us to book a tutorial or find out more. Please include your availability, phone number and topic.

Literature search service (SVHM staff only)

• Request a standard literature search - results provided in Endnote library, not exhaustive
• Request ongoing search alerts for automated topic updates 
• Receiving your search results from a librarian - using EndNote and downloading full text PDFs
• Note: This service is for hospital business only. Not suitable for most study or publication purposes, or systematic reviews.

Image by Helen Wilding