Library guides

The Library guides offer an abundance of information to help with your study and research at La Trobe University.

Search our guides to see if the information you need is listed. If it's not listed or the guide you found does not contain the information you're looking for, reach out to the Library to see if we can help.

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Health

These guides explore key skills, search concepts and databases, and help you find the best resources for your health disciplines.

A deep understanding of human anatomy is fundamental to success in many health science disciplines. This guide provides access to a curated selection of high-quality digital resources, including interactive anatomy atlases, rotatable 3D body models and streaming videos of real-life dissections. It connects you to key electronic textbooks and databases that offer detailed visual and textual information on all body systems.

You will also find links to study tools and quizzes that can help you memorize complex terminology and visualise spatial relationships within the body. Whether you are preparing for a lab practical, studying for an exam or writing a clinical report, these resources offer the detailed anatomical knowledge required for your academic progression.

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Critical appraisal is the sophisticated skill of carefully and systematically examining research to judge its trustworthiness, value and relevance. This guide provides the essential tools and checklists needed to evaluate different types of studies, such as randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and qualitative research. It explains key concepts like selection bias, validity, reliability and statistical significance in plain language.

You will find links to standard appraisal frameworks (like CASP or JBI) that structure your evaluation process. Mastering these skills is essential for Evidence-Based Practice, allowing you to determine which research findings are robust enough to influence your academic work and future clinical decision-making.

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This specialised subject guide is designed to support students, researchers and practitioners in dentistry and oral health. It highlights the most relevant databases for finding dental literature, such as PubMed and specialised oral health collections. You will gain access to key e-books, drug handbooks and clinical guidelines essential for safe practice. The guide also covers resources for specific sub-topics like periodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics and dental public health.

Additionally, it offers tips on constructing effective search strategies for dental topics, ensuring you can locate the best available evidence for your assignments, case studies and clinical preparation. By using these targeted resources, you stay up to date with the latest advancements in oral healthcare.

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Whether you are studying human nutrition, dietetics or sports science, this guide connects you with essential, evidence-based information. It provides access to vital tools such as food composition databases, nutrient reference values and clinical practice guidelines for treating various conditions. You will find links to top-tier journals and databases for researching sports performance, exercise physiology and public health nutrition.

The guide also helps you locate grey literature and government reports relevant to food policy and health promotion. By using these specialised resources, you can ensure your coursework, research projects and future practice recommendations are grounded in the latest scientific evidence and industry standards.

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This guide serves as a central hub for resources related to ergonomics, human factors engineering and occupational health. It connects you with specialised databases and journals covering topics such as workplace design, musculoskeletal disorders and occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations. You will find information on anthropometric data, usability testing and the standards relevant to designing safe and efficient systems for human use.

The guide is valuable for students in health sciences, engineering and design who need to understand the interaction between humans and other elements of a system. Use these resources to support your research into optimising human well-being, reducing injury risk and improving overall system performance.

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Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is the cornerstone of modern healthcare, combining clinical expertise with the best available research and patient values. This guide walks you through the five fundamental steps of the EBP cycle: Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply and Audit. It helps you formulate answerable clinical questions using frameworks like PICO and guides you to the best databases for finding high-level evidence.

You will learn about the hierarchy of evidence and how to distinguish between different study designs. By following this guide, you will develop the critical skills necessary to find, evaluate and implement research findings, ensuring high-quality, scientifically supported care for patients and clients.

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Discover how to locate and use grey literature – such as government reports and guidelines – for health research.

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Finding the right literature is essential for success in health science degrees. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the major health and medical databases, such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase and PsycINFO. It explains the specific focus and content of each database, helping you choose the best one for your research question. You will learn about the power of using controlled vocabulary (like MeSH headings) versus keyword searching to improve the relevance of your results.

The guide also offers tutorials on advanced search techniques, saving searches and setting up alerts. Mastering these databases is critical for conducting thorough literature reviews and supporting your clinical knowledge with high-quality evidence.

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Health Information Management (HIM) sits at the critical intersection of healthcare, management and technology. This guide connects you with essential resources on clinical classification, disease coding standards (like ICD-10-AM) and health informatics. You will find links to professional associations, government health data dictionaries and legal standards regarding health privacy and data security.

The guide also highlights key journals and databases for researching health systems management, electronic health records and data analytics. Whether you are studying medical terminology or analysing health data policies, these resources provide the industry-specific information needed for your studies and your future career in managing vital health information.

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A literature review is more than just a summary of sources; it is a critical synthesis of existing knowledge on a specific topic. This guide outlines the detailed steps involved in writing a successful review, including defining your research question, searching for comprehensive literature and selecting relevant studies. It offers strategies for organising your notes, identifying themes and recognising gaps or controversies in the current research.

You will also find advice on how to structure the written review to tell a coherent story about the state of the evidence. This resource is invaluable for students undertaking research projects, capstones or advanced coursework requiring deep engagement with academic literature.

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This guide is tailored to the specific academic and clinical needs of midwifery students and practitioners. It provides access to core databases for maternity, neonatal and infant care, as well as key journals in the field. You will find links to clinical practice guidelines, drug resources for pregnancy and lactation, and critical information on Indigenous maternal health.

The guide also supports the development of skills in evidence-based midwifery, helping you locate research that informs safe, woman-centred and culturally safe care. Whether working on a theoretical assignment or preparing for a clinical placement, this guide connects you with the authoritative sources required for professional midwifery practice.

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This broad guide supports students across both nursing and midwifery disciplines, acting as a portal to essential clinical and academic knowledge. It highlights the most important databases for finding nursing literature, such as CINAHL and MEDLINE, and provides tutorials on how to search them effectively. You will find access to current drug guides, point-of-care tools and streaming videos demonstrating clinical skills and procedures.

The guide also covers resources for specific nursing specialties, leadership, management and ethics. By centralising these resources, the guide helps you find the evidence needed for assignments, care plans and clinical decision-making, ensuring you are prepared for the demands of the healthcare environment.

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This subject guide connects Occupational Therapy (OT) students with the scholarly literature and clinical tools necessary for their studies. It provides access to databases covering rehabilitation, allied health and social sciences. You will find information on OT theories, models of practice and standardised assessment tools used in the field.

The guide also links to resources on functional anatomy, assistive technology and evidence-based interventions for various client populations. Whether you are researching mental health, paediatrics, geriatrics or physical rehabilitation, this guide helps you locate high-quality evidence to support your clinical reasoning, intervention planning and academic assignments.

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Designed specifically for paramedicine students, this guide focuses on resources relevant to pre-hospital care and emergency medicine. It connects you with key databases, e-books and journals covering trauma, critical care and primary health. You will find links to clinical practice guidelines utilised by ambulance services, as well as pharmacology resources essential for understanding medications used by paramedics.

The guide also supports research into the broader context of paramedicine, including public health, mental health and legal issues. Use these resources to ensure your knowledge is current and grounded in the latest evidence for emergency medical practice, supporting both your academic tasks and clinical preparedness.

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This guide is essential for pharmacy students, researchers and future pharmacists. It provides access to major drug information databases, pharmacopoeias (like the BP and USP) and therapeutic guidelines (eTG). You will find links to resources on pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry and pharmacy practice.

The guide also covers evidence-based medicine tools and resources for patient counseling and medication safety. By using these authoritative sources, you can ensure you have accurate, up-to-date information on drug properties, interactions and clinical usage for your studies and future professional practice in healthcare.

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This guide serves students in the rehabilitation sciences, specifically Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Prosthetics/Orthotics. It highlights databases and journals relevant to musculoskeletal health, biomechanics and movement science. You will gain access to detailed anatomy resources, clinical assessment tools and evidence-based guidelines for treatment and rehabilitation.

The guide also covers specific areas such as gait analysis, lower limb pathology and orthotic design. By utilising these targeted resources, you can find the high-quality research and clinical information necessary for your case studies, practical exams and theoretical assignments, ensuring you have the evidence base to support your clinical interventions.

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This guide is the starting point for research in psychology and behavioral sciences. It introduces the major databases, such as PsycINFO, and explains how to search for empirical studies, literature reviews and theoretical papers. You will find information on finding psychological tests and measures, as well as resources for writing lab reports and formatting papers according to APA style.

The guide also covers various sub-disciplines, including clinical, developmental, cognitive and social psychology. Whether you are a first-year student understanding the basics or conducting a thesis, these resources will help you navigate the vast literature on the human mind and behavior.

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Public health requires a broad range of information, from statistical data to social policy analysis. This guide connects you with databases for epidemiology, health promotion and health management. You will find links to local and international health statistics, government reports and systematic reviews. The guide also covers resources for global health issues, environmental health and social determinants of health.

By using this guide, you can locate the quantitative data and qualitative research needed to analyse population health trends, evaluate health policies and develop effective public health interventions. It is an essential toolkit for understanding the complex factors that influence the health of communities.

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Reflective practice is a critical skill in many professions, particularly in health, education and social work. This guide explains what reflective practice is and why it is important for continuous learning and improvement. It introduces various theoretical models of reflection (such as Gibbs, Schon or Kolb) that provide a structure for analysing your experiences.

You will find resources on how to write reflectively for assessments, moving beyond simple description to critical analysis and future planning. This guide helps you turn your practical experiences into deep knowledge, enhancing your personal growth and professional capability.

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This guide supports social work students in finding resources related to social welfare, human rights and community practice. It highlights key databases for sociology, family studies and social policy. You will find links to government legislation, non-government organisation (NGO) reports and statistics on social issues such as poverty, housing and domestic violence.

The guide also covers theories of social work practice, ethics and field education. Whether researching child protection, mental health or community development, these resources provide the evidence base and contextual information necessary for critical social work practice and academic writing.

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This guide covers the allied health disciplines of Speech Pathology, Orthoptics and Audiology. It connects students with databases and journals relevant to communication disorders, vision science and hearing health. You will find resources on anatomy, linguistics and rehabilitation techniques. The guide also helps you locate standardised tests, clinical guidelines and evidence-based practice resources specific to each profession.

By using this guide, you can access the specialised literature required to understand complex sensory and communication conditions, helping you support your clinical learning and develop effective treatment plans for patients with diverse needs.

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A systematic review is a high-level research methodology that comprehensively synthesises all available evidence on a specific question. This guide details the demanding process involved, which is distinct from a standard literature review. It covers the essential steps: developing a robust protocol, registering your review (e.g. via PROSPERO) and conducting exhaustive searches across multiple databases.

You will learn about screening processes, risk of bias assessment and PRISMA reporting standards. This resource is essential for postgraduate students and researchers undertaking this complex type of study to ensure their methodology is transparent, reproducible and meets international publication standards.

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Starting a research degree can be a daunting process, involving multiple administrative and academic challenges. This guide offers some tips and strategies for those commencing their graduate studies, including ideas for setting up systems, links to important contacts and resources to get your thesis writing off to a good start.

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