Health Sciences Literature Search Services
We support faculty and student research in the Faculties of Medicine, Health, and Dentistry through consultation and reference services, as well as teaching and learning opportunities through workshops and seminars on effective literature search techniques.
Our subject specialists offer advanced support for researchers and faculty in health sciences conducting various types of literature reviews.
Types of Literature Searches
Literature Reviews
Also called summary or narrative review, a literature review is a description of prior research without a systematic search and selection strategy or critical appraisal of the studies’ merits.
Knowledge Synthesis Reviews
- Scoping Review: a scoping review documents what is already known which helps refine a research question, concepts, and theories.
- Systematic Review: a systematic review attempts to collate all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.
- Meta-Analysis Review: a meta-analysis review is like a systematic review, but statistical methods are used in the analysis to summarize the results of selected independent studies.
Support Services
Teaching & Education
Health science librarians are available to provide education sessions on literature reviews, knowledge synthesis processes, and general literature searching methods. Contact the Kellogg Library to connect on education options and connect with your liaison librarian.
Search Consultations
Consultations with a health sciences librarian are available through reference drop in or by appointment. Advice can be provided on the selection of appropriate databases, development of search strategies, identification of terminology, effective searching, and management of results. You will be coached to develop and document your own searches.
Literature Review Searches
Faculty, instructors, and staff in the Faculties of Dentistry, Health, and Medicine may request to have their literature searches conducted by a librarian at no charge in support of teaching or research at Dalhousie University.
Extended Knowledge Synthesis Service for Faculty
Dalhousie faculty in Medicine, Health, and Dentistry may choose to invite a health sciences librarian to join their Knowledge Synthesis Research Teams. Collaboration decisions are at the discretion of the librarian and will be considered for faculty-led projects. Student projects for academic credit are not eligible for collaboration. Please read the full guidelines for more details.
Support Services for Regional Healthcare Professionals
Literature Searches for Regional Healthcare Professionals
For regional health care professionals, a literature search can be completed on health and medical topics for a fee.
Document Delivery
The Dalhousie libraries extend document delivery privileges to Atlantic Regional Health Professionals who are not Dalhousie faculty, staff or students and who do not have access to a local hospital library's interlibrary loan service.
Literature Search Guidelines
Read more about our services for health sciences faculty and students and regional healthcare professionals: