scholarly journals Using focus groups to evaluate a multiyear consumer health outreach collaboration

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Malone ◽  
Shari Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Academic health sciences librarians sought to evaluate the efficacy and future of the Health Information Specialists Program, a five-year consumer health information outreach collaboration with public libraries across the state.Methods: Five focus groups were held with participants from all five years of the program. Thirty-four participants from the program attended. Facilitators used structured interview guides consisting of eleven questions regarding the impact of the collaboration on participants’ abilities to connect themselves or others to health information; the usefulness of materials or knowledge gained and its applications; any consumer health outreach projects that arose from the program; and suggestions for future topics, formats, or modifications. Data was hand-coded and analyzed using the framework analysis methodology for qualitative research.Results: Participants reported feeling improved confidence and comfort in providing health information services to their patrons. Numerous instances of knowledge transfer—in their personal lives, with their colleagues, and for their patrons—were described. Participants reported improved abilities to both find and evaluate consumer health information, and many adapted class materials for their own programming or teaching. Suggestions were provided for future class topics as well as a program website.Conclusion: Based on data from the five focus groups, the Health Information Specialists Program has positively impacted participants in a number of ways. Primary among these were self-reported improvement in both health information retrieval skills and the ability to evaluate the reliability of health information online, as well as in the confidence to help patrons with their health information needs.

Hispanics and public libraries

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
EunYoung Yoo-Lee ◽  
Tamara Rhodes ◽  
Gabriel M. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Purpose The fastest-growing and the largest minority group in the USA, Hispanics are known to have low health literacy because of their limited English proficiency (LEP) and other socio-economic and cultural factors. This paper aims to examine the health information-seeking behaviors of Hispanics in the e-health environment and their use of public libraries as a health information source/service. Design/methodology/approach An interviewer-administered survey was conducted using a semi-structured instrument. The questionnaires inquired about Hispanics’ health information needs, source use and source preference; use of the library for health information needs; and their perceptions and satisfaction about the library’s consumer health information services. A total of 26 Hispanics were recruited from a Hispanic community organization, a public library and an ethnic grocery store in North Carolina. Findings The majority of the participants are foreign born (92.3 per cent) and non-English speakers (84.6 per cent). The internet was the most frequently used source, followed by friends/family, doctors and TV. Eighty-one per cent of the participants were internet users, and most of them (71 per cent) used the internet at home. Only 23 per cent visited a public library to search the internet for health information. Some barriers to using a public library mentioned by the participants include lack of time to visit a library, lack of skills in using the library materials, transportation, LEP, lack of eligibility for a library card, etc. Social implications The findings will be useful for libraries and state/federal health services to evaluate and develop library services suitable for the Hispanics’ consumer health information needs. Originality/value This study is one of a few studies that use an empirical study of a low health literacy ethnic population to examine the possible roles of public libraries in enhancing health literacy.

scholarly journals Consumer health information services in public libraries in Canada and the US

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Murray
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Us ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Health Information Resources

In response to a growing demand from the public for health information resources, North American public libraries have provided varying levels of consumer health information (CHI) services since the 1970s. Due to the availability of funding in the US, many American public libraries have provided CHI services, although the majority of these have been as partnerships with health sciences libraries or via the “Go Local” programs. In Canada, where no specific funding has been available for CHI services, few public libraries have set up CHI services; health information has generally been provided by augmenting health collections or “virtually,” i.e., by providing links to recommended electronic resources via the library’s Web site.

scholarly journals Brittle words: the impact of health information on patients' compliance with treatment

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (66) ◽  
pp. 60-64
Author(s):  
Andrew Hampson
Keyword(s):  
Postmenopausal Osteoporosis ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
The Impact

There are numerous benefits associated with the provision of consumer health information. A study was undertaken to investigate the impact of health information on patients' compliance with treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

scholarly journals Dietary and herbal supplements for weight loss: assessing the quality of patient information online

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Y. Ng ◽  
Saad Ahmed ◽  
Catherine Jiayi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Given the high prevalence of dietary and herbal supplement (DHS) use in tandem with the growing ease of internet access, patients commonly search online for consumer health information about these products. One common reason for DHSs use includes weight loss. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the quality of online information about DHSs for weight loss so they can adequately counsel their patients and provide them with guidance surrounding the identification of high-quality information resources. This study aimed to assess the quality of online DHSs consumer health information for weight loss that a “typical” patient might access online. Methods Six search terms were used to generate the first 20 websites on the Google search engine in four countries: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States (n = 480 websites). After applying exclusion criteria, eligible websites were quality assessed using the DISCERN instrument. This tool is comprised of 16 questions, each evaluated on a 5-point scale. The averages and standard deviations for each DISCERN instrument item, in addition to overall summed scores between 15 and 75 were calculated. Results Across 87 eligible websites, the mean summed score was 44.80 (SD = 11.53), while the mean overall DISCERN score of each website was 2.72 (SD = 0.99). In general, websites detailed and achieved their specified aims and described treatment benefits. However, most websites failed to describe the impact of treatment on overall quality of life and the impact of a no treatment option. The highest-scoring websites were largely government or health portal websites, while the lowest-scoring websites were largely commercial in nature. Conclusion High variability in DISCERN instrument scores was found across all websites assessed. Healthcare providers should be aware of the fact that their patients may be accessing misinformation online surrounding the use of DHSs for weight loss. Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to ensure that they are providing their patients with guidance on how to identify high-quality resources online, in order that safe, effective, and evidence-based decisions are made surrounding the use of DHSs for weight loss.

A rapid review of consumer health information needs and preferences

2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (9) ◽  
pp. 1634-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imogen Ramsey ◽  
Nadia Corsini ◽  
Micah D.J. Peters ◽  
Marion Eckert
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Consumer Health
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document