NAKIA J. WOODWARD, MSIS, AHIP RICK WALLACE, MSLS, EDD, AHIP EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE LIBRARY JOHNSON CITY,

Transcription

1 NAKIA J. WOODWARD, MSIS, AHIP RICK WALLACE, MSLS, EDD, AHIP EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE LIBRARY JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE, USA

2 Tennessee Regional Public Library System

3 Classes Taught Public Librarians 250 people received MLA consumer health information specialization certificate from Classes 911 Participants covering a 550 mile distance. 3 hour classes held in computer labs reserved by the regional library. Structured NN/LM classes for public librarians: Looking in all the Wrong Places: PubMed for Public Librarians Prescription for Success: Consumer Health Information on the Internet From Snake Oil to Penicillin: Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information in a Public Library

4 NN/LM Web Page Classes

5 CHIS(Consumer Health Information Specialization) For Public Library Workers 4 NN/LM classes designed for Public Librarians. Attend 12 hours of training. Awarded by the Medical Library Association. Certifications were funded by the library boards or by the grant. Regions using as a tool to get raises. Graduations at the commission meetings.

6 Triage System Consumer Questions Patrons Consumer Health Questions Bookmarks Distributed to Patrons/Questions Answered Public Libraries Classes Taught/Bookmarks Distributed Consumer Health Questions Lacking Time or Manpower to Answer QCOM Medical Library

7 Methods Qualitative Methodology 193 phone numbers obtained of class attendees 146 called 70 interviewed by 2 team members Used predetermined question list as starting point Obtained IRB approval Two coders Data entered into NVivo 9

8 Themes

9 Information

10 Promotion

11 Promotion Uses MedlinePlus bookmarks and magazines Puts MedlinePlus bookmarks in books when checked out Uses MedlinePlus posters Uses MedlinePlus notepads (prescription for info pads) Distributes promotional materials to Senior Club Delivers MedlinePlus magazines to nursing homes Puts link to MedlinePlus on library computers Promotes Health Check Cards Wasn t aware of how to reorder materials

12 Promotion Promotes on Facebook Works with local sheriff's office to promote children s health Hosted smoking cessation class Works with HeadStart and JumpStart Works with AARP (Retirement Group) Works with local providers and health departments Has programs for diabetics, heart problems Hosts a Health Field Day for the local middle school

13 Promotion Promotes health awareness month such as child abuse, breast cancer Heart Health Happy Hour Business Fairs CPR program Some participate in health fairs Some host health fairs Quirky holidays such as heart health awareness on Valentine s Day Displays in library such as H1N1, drowning, and fire safety

14 MedlinePlus Portal

15 MedlinePlus Likes, excellent, informative, easy to use, reliable, helpful, great, good tool, easy to understand, user friendly, simple & explanatory, current, free, set up well Impressed with the level of material, amount of material, and ease of lookup Patrons seem to like only source for health information uses for all referrals Uses for personal health problems They don t buy health books anymore because it is cheaper and easier to stay up to date using online sources

16 MedlinePlus Liked the Drug Information, Symptom Checker, Doctor Lookup, Drug Identification tool, Local Provider tool, Different Languages, Alphabetical Search Option, Encyclopedia, Virtual Doctor Good source of disease information Liked that there were no ads cluttering up the site Likes that it is government produced issues finding and using the provider finder

17 Instruction

18 Instruction Liked, Loved, great, excellent, helpful, good, enjoyable, very informative, very interesting, well explained, fantastic, neat, Hands-on Learning Appreciated the classes high quality training, especially compared to others [inservices] that were attended Not too long

19 Instruction Favorite class was on finding quality health information Criticism of classes was that it was a lot of information would have been better over two days Would be interested in future classes. Used what was learned Instructors very good, classes were taught really well, wonderful job in teaching

20 Instruction Very positive experience Information has come in handy Would be interested in finishing the series. Interested in Level 2 classes. Uses what she learned from them all the time

21 People

22 Information Needs & Behaviors

23 Information Needs & Behaviors Few health questions to many health questions. Questions cyclical, comes in waves like flu season and the like Uses a little to uses a lot. Time is a problem Needs class for applying for health insurance. Needs class on Chemical Hazards in the home. Able to use what was learned in classes Did not remember taking the classes Knows how to tell the difference between reliable health sites and the ones that aren t

24 Information Needs & Behaviors Uses to help patrons Patrons mostly use books Patrons are generally directed to the Internet The patrons seem to either know how to find what they want or they just don t ask Questions come from either what their doctor told them or didn t think to ask questions while they were with the doctor.

25 Library Characteristics Indicated

26 Library Characteristics Indicated Very small Small library Only employee Three workers Not a lot of foot traffic

27 Conclusions Quality health information is being disseminated to patrons and used for personal health problems. The Train the Trainer effect has taken place. The public library workers are disseminating what they learned to other groups. MedlinePlus has been very highly received by the public library workers. Participation in the classes left students with a sense of empowerment and feeling respected. Using public libraries as a public health workforce is an effective strategy.

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