Search

The article focuses on the development and implementation of a book discussion group in a consumer health library, aiming to promote health literacy and engagement with patients, healthcare providers and community members. Topics include the planning process; book selection aligned with health themes and observances; the transition from virtual to in-person discussions; and also highlighting increased participation and positive feedback from attendees.

Background: Having diverse representation in clinical trial participation is important. Historically, rural residents have been underrepresented in clinical trial research. Public librarians have an opportunity to promote clinical trial participation among rural residents by offering consumer health information services that help patrons to understand what clinical trials are and how they can find relevant clinical trials. Case Presentation: A consumer health library and a clinical trial center located at a large academic medical center collaborated to provide clinical trial information programming to rural public libraries. The group was awarded a Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Community Outreach Grant and was able to plan, develop, promote, and implement programs including training workshops, a speaker event, and a book discussion to rural public librarians. Discussion: Marketing the programs to rural public libraries was difficult and many barriers were encountered. Though registration and subsequent participation were low, participants expressed interest and gratitude for the programs. For any future programs targeting this population, further strategies will need to be implemented to ensure increased registrations and attendees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on rare diseases and the challenges faced by patients with rare diseases. It emphasizes the role of librarians in providing resources and programming to support patients with rare diseases, including raising awareness, providing reliable consumer health information, and assisting caregivers. It also highlights the observance of Rare Disease Day and the programming conducted at a consumer health library to support the rare disease community.

The article discusses how librarians can help prevent the spread of health misinformation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021. Topics covered include misinformation and disinformation, steps in identifying them, and reputable sources of quality consumer-level information about COVID-19 for patients. Also noted is one consumer health library's dissemination of reliable information and checking of the spread of misinformation.

The article offers information on how librarians support and facilitate patient leadership. Topics include role of patient leader can be facilitated and supported by librarians, provide the way that librarians can use their expertise to support patients with rare diseases, and finding reliable consumer-level information but also support patients who become leaders in their health care. that.

Transitioning from one library setting to another library setting can be a daunting experience. This paper provides case studies from two librarians who transitioned to different library types. One librarian describes her recent transition to academic libraries from a corporate library setting. The other case study describes a librarian's experience from twelve years ago transitioning from a public library to a health sciences library as a consumer health librarian located in a large hospital. The authors describe their experiences, detail similarities and differences in library types, and provide advice for others desiring to transition to another library setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable online and print consumer level information about dental and oral health disease and interventions (other than prevention) is in short supply and difficult to find. Two medical librarians from the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences collaborated to conduct a one-hour lunch and learn workshop for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry (SOD) faculty on how to find reliable dental consumer health information to provide their patients. This article describes the workshop and websites that provide valid consumer oral health information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the efforts of the government for patient to gain the health literacy skills to navigate and understand the health care system. It discusses the Plain Writing Act of 2010 under the Obama Administration and strategies to make language plain and understandable to lay audiences at a myriad of literacy levels. It mentions the role of librarians in promoting health literacy by providing patients access to high-quality patient education and consumer health materials.

Academic librarians at Virginia Commonwealth University collaborated to develop and conduct a one-hour long session aimed at seniors about finding reliable online senior health information. The librarians focused on demonstrating a free, local, senior health database, Senior Navigator. Development of the class and an overview of the session are provided along with an annotated list of additional senior health resources librarians can use to find reliable senior health information for their patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians in all library settings may receive health-related questions from patrons. Librarians in settings outside of medical and consumer health libraries may not have received training or experience in consumer health information provision. Two medical librarians with extensive consumer health information experience developed a two-day training workshop for local area librarians. The first day of the training focused on finding and evaluating medical apps for patrons. The second day emphasized consumer health information provision: consumer health reference interview, ethics, website evaluation, and demonstrations of several reliable consumer health websites. This paper explores the development and implementation of the consumer health information workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a brief review of the development and history of the Community Health Education Center (CHEC), a library for patients and their family members over its past 14 years. Over time, CHEC management recognized new patient needs and evolved to meet the needs of its users through a variety of value-added services. This article discusses current services that CHEC offers including reference, business services, and health and wellness programs. Libraries planning to provide consumer health information services to patients and their family members can learn valuable lessons from the history, development, challenges, and services of CHEC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article explores the participation of health sciences librarians in outreach efforts to provide middle school students with an overview of health sciences librarianship and other health-related careers during a summer program. Topics covered include the importance of diversification of the workforce in medicine, the orientation of students to the Community Health Education Center (CHEC) and the ways by which libraries can promote health sciences careers to minorities.