The impact of consumer health information on the demand for health services

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Sabatini Dwyer ◽  
Hong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Demand For Health ◽  
The Impact

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.

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.

Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) Sponsorship Program Improves the Capacity of Public Library Staff to Provide Health Information to their Community

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kiscaden ◽  
Michele Spatz ◽  
Susan M Wolfe ◽  
Molly Knapp ◽  
Erica Lake
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
National Network ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Health Information Resources ◽  
The Impact

In 2018, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) launched a national sponsorship program to support U.S. library staff in obtaining the Medical Library Association (MLA) Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS). To evaluate the impact of the sponsorship program, staff developed and administered a 16-question assessment to 224 library staff sponsored in the first year of the program. The objective of this research project was to determine if 1) obtaining the specialization was successful in improving library staff ability to provide consumer health information, 2) sponsorship made obtaining the specialization possible, and 3) sponsorship resulted in recipients offering new health or wellness services, programming, or outreach activities at their library. The survey had a 61% response rate (n=136) and all respondents indicated that obtaining the specialization met their expectations. Over 80% of respondents reported an increase in knowledge of health information resources and over half offered new health information programs and services as a result of the sponsored training. Additionally, over 60% of respondents weeded or updated their library’s consumer health resources as a result of the training they received for the certificate. Respondents indicated that their intention to renew the CHIS certificate or obtain the more advanced, Level II specialization, was not certain. This research indicates that sponsorship of the certificate program was successful in increasing the capacity of public library staff to provide health information to their community.

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