Library - Literature Search Service

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Our specialist staff are happy to do a search of the literature for you.

Searches done for UOW or CCDHB staff are free. External users should contact us for charges.

If you would like a search done please email us on medlibref.wsmhs@otago.ac.nz or phone 385 5561 or x5561 and let us know the following:

  • The topic – please give us as much as you can about the topic including any terms or keywords that may assist us. Also any other aspects e.g.
    • Age group
    • Publication date range such as last 5 or 10 years
    • If you'd like the results limited to review articles, systematic reviews, meta analyses, RCTs or other study types
    • English language only, or including foreign language articles with English abstracts
    • A geographical range, e.g. New Zealand material
    • How much you think may be published on the topic, particularly if it is something new or obscure
  • When you would like the search done by

Results will be emailed to you as a list of references of relevant books, journal articles and grey literature, including abstracts (where available). 

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Why would you request a literature search?

  • Patient care
  • If you have a difficult or complex search
  • If you have searched on your own but missed important articles or not found relevant articles
  • When it is essential that your search be comprehensive, as for a research project or systematic review
  • If you have not had time to become familiar with doing your own searches
  • If you are short of time

Students! Unfortunately we do not undertake searches for students (this includes staff needing literature searches for course work); however we’re happy to advise students on what resources to use and to train them to search the literature themselves.

 

Last updated May 24, 2010

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