Consumer Health Outreach Research Articles

Facilitating rural access to quality health information through Little Free Libraries

Background: In 2020 the Health Science Center Libraries (HSCL) at the University of Florida collaborated with the Okeechobee County Public library (OCPL) on their plan to install Little Free Libraries (LFLs) within their community. It was agreed that the HSCL would provide consumer health-related materials for the Little Free Libraries and training with the goal of improving health literacy, precision medicine, and increasing rural access to consumer health materials and services. Case Presentation: Using census data, the County Health Improvement Plan, and OCPL circulation data the team identified minority population groups, potential accessibility issues, and local consumer health information needs and barriers to select appropriate resources. Additionally, partnerships were created with the local Health Department, Parks and Recreation services, the Rotary Club, and other local organizations to make the project a success. A total of 424 books were selected for the LFLs and 40 unique online resources were selected, printed, and shipped to OCPL to be used during LFL reference sessions. Technology was purchased to assist OCPL with their planned community health reference outreach sessions. HSCL created and provided online training on facilitating consumer health outreach, conducting health information reference services, and promoting community engagement for OCPL. Discussion: LFLs have become an important resource for lower-income rural families in Okeechobee. There are 7 LFLs in Okeechobee County, with a goal of eventually establishing 15 total to provide vital health resources and books. Over 2,456 items have been circulated among the 7 LFLs since May 2020. Overall, the project has been successful with positive feedback received from the community and with OCPL planning to continue to expand the project.

Using focus groups to evaluate a multiyear consumer health outreach collaboration.

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.

Reflections on a Decade of Promoting Consumer Health Resources at Remote Area Medical Clinics

Librarians at the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Quillen College of Medicine Library have provided consumer health outreach services to rural and underserved populations at Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinics since 2009. These outreach services heavily depend upon and promote consumer health websites and National Library of Medicine (NLM) resources in order to reach the largest number of people at the lowest possible cost. This article will provide a brief overview of RAM clinics in Wise, VA, and Gray, TN, served by ETSU librarians for years. Additionally, this article will discuss the evolution of ETSU QCoM librarian outreach initiatives relating to these clinics over the past decade. This article includes a list of online consumer health resources used to support these initiatives as well as a list of most commonly addressed consumer health topics.

Use of Social Media for Consumer Health Outreach in a Solo Hospital Library

ABSTRACTUsing social media in hospital libraries is an excellent tool for reaching and engaging existing or potential users. However, small or solo hospital librarians do not always have enough staff or time to incorporate these resources into their menu of services. Hospital librarians should consider the potential benefits of using the library as a trusted social media resource for the community and can customize outreach without sacrificing staff time, straining the budget, or battling the firewall. Having the hospital library offer health information to the community through social media has many potential benefits for improving health knowledge and health literacy.

Morningcrest Health Library: A Clinic-Based Approach to Health Information Literacy Services

Recently, the Schusterman Library at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa opened a satellite library in the out-patient clinic on campus. This article describes how the new library came into being and the role it is expected to play in patient education and consumer health outreach.

Consumer Health Outreach as a Sum of Parts: Individual and Collective Approaches of a Health Care System's Libraries

Consumer Health Outreach as a Sum of Parts: Individual and Collective Approaches of a Health Care System's Libraries

Creating a Consumer Health Outreach Program for Western New York Senior Citizens: Continuing a Library School Project

ABSTRACT The Internet has made accessing information a simple task. Each day millions of Americans log on to the Web in search of information on a variety of subjects. One of the most sought after type of information is medical information. Individuals are taking a more proactive role in their personal health care and the health care of their friends and families. Attempting to locate and evaluate quality health care information can pose a variety of problems for the consumer. Academic libraries have an opportunity to play a crucial role in facilitating the consumer's access to quality, reliable health information by developing and implementing consumer health outreach programs designed to address search problems and information interpretation difficulties. The benefits for both the community and the library are numerous when a consumer health information outreach program is successfully employed. This article will chronicle the creation of a Consumer Health Outreach program, entitled “WNY Consumer Health,” intended for senior citizens in Western New York. This program was designed to satisfy the requirements of a graduate special project for the completion of the authors' MLS degree.

Help Your Health! Establishing a Consumer Health Program in a Small Public Library

Public libraries play a vital role in providing current, accurate consumer health information. This article details the use of an Express Consumer Health Outreach Award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region to build a consumer health program for seniors at the Los Alamos County Public Library, and share the lessons learned during the implementation along with the lasting benefits of the award.

Outreach to Public Libraries, Senior Centers, and Clinics to Improve Patient and Consumer Health Care

The medical library of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego developed a community outreach project to provide computer training on how to access electronic health information using the NLM and related databases. The goal is to enable local senior residents to improve their health and health care by accessing authoritative information. The original project plan was described in “Senior Health Goes Electronic: Partnership on Access to Health Senior Health Information Services” JCHI 9(2) 2005. This paper is a companion update of that publication covering the project implementation, progress, and its recent expansion. The library consumer health outreach project evolved into a broad environment for teaching health information access to a diverse population at multiple local San Diego community settings. Insights about the library outreach efforts, attendee participation, and the senior health Web page are discussed. Conclusions include the evaluation approach and population diversity of over 3,500 participants (community patients and residents), and over 425 hands-on class attendees from varying ethnic backgrounds, minority groups, low income to middle class adults and seniors. Health professionals (nurses, allied health personnel, and physicians) have also been class attendees.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine and Consumer Health Outreach

This article includes a brief history of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) involvement in providing consumer health information. It also describes current efforts to reach health consumers through the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) and selected intermediaries, in particular public libraries. Training curriculum and a Web resource have been developed to support outreach to public libraries as agents of health information for the general public. Public libraries are encouraged to partner with community health agencies to provide health information in their local areas. Early results of outreach efforts are discussed.

Partnering with the Community

ABSTRACT The Women's Health Network for Minority Consumer Health Outreach (WHN) facilitates access to culturally and linguistically appropriate consumer health information. WHN is a partnership of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health System, the VCU Libraries Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, VCU School of Nursing, REACH (consortium of health providers), and the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Computers were placed in five community locations where staff were trained to search for and evaluate health Web sites and use appropriate resources (e.g., MedlinePlus). Products included a Web site, health education lectures, and promotional exhibits at various community events. A community group regularly advises program directors.