Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the impact that funding from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), Greater Midwest Region (GMR), has on member institutions' ability to conduct outreach on behalf of NN/LM. The study employed both content analysis and survey methodologies. The final reports from select GMR-funded outreach projects (n = 20) were analyzed based on a set of evaluation criteria. Project principal investigators (n = 13) were then surveyed using the same evaluation criteria. Results indicated that outreach projects supported by GMR funding improved access to biomedical information for professionals and the general public. Barriers to conducting outreach projects included time constraints or commitments, staffing, scheduling and absenteeism, inadequate space, and issues associated with technology (e.g., hardware and software, Internet connectivity and firewall issues, and creation and use of new technologies). The majority of project principal investigators indicated that their attempts to conduct outreach were successful. Moreover, most noted that outreach had a positive impact on professionals as well as the general public. In general, it seems that negative outcomes, as with most barriers to conducting outreach, can be mitigated by more thorough planning.
Highlights
3.1.1 Objective One: Provide easy-to-use consumer health information resources such as MedlinePlus en espanol that provide authoritative information for health professionals and the general public that is sensitive to cultural diversity issues, 3.1.2 Objective Two: Develop population-specific web sites that focus on the issues of
For grants funded in this interest area, annual progress reports will be reviewed to identify results related to the effectiveness of the information technology in helping racial and ethnic minority and other health disparity populations make informed decisions about their health
2.3.2.1 Action Plan: National Library of Medicine (NLM) will support initiatives with Mentoring In Medicine (MIM), an organization with a mission to ignite an interest in health careers among underrepresented minority AfricanAmerican and Hispanic students located at schools in New York City’s Harlem and South Bronx, and to help them execute a plan for success
Summary
Initiate collaborative projects with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions to strengthen their capacity to conduct research addressing environmental health and health disparities in minority and low socioeconomic communities. The initial mission of this project was to strengthen the capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to train health professionals to use NLM’s Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program databases. To further extend the impact of this effort and to address the concerns about health disparities that may be associated with race, socioeconomic status, environmental factors, etc., this effort was expanded from the HBCUs to include more broadly members of minority and low socioeconomic communities as well as other educational institutions serving minority populations
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