Engaging student employee expertise to improve Wikipedia edit-a-thons

Although academic skepticism of Wikipedia’s value as an information resource is widespread, the collaboratively created online encyclopedia is in fact one of the most frequently used health information resources in the world, including among students and professionals. As a result, the U.S.-based Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) has, since 2018, organized biannual “#CiteNLM” edit-a-thons aimed at strengthening Wikipedia’s health pages by adding content and citations to trusted sources of information. The first #CiteNLM edit-a-thon was a one-day virtual event in April 2018; since then NNLM’s edit-a-thons have evolved into month-long campaigns engaging primarily academic libraries with in-person edit-a-thons as well as virtual events. Hundreds of students, faculty, and library staff across the country (many of whom were new to Wikipedia editing) have collaborated in NNLM’s efforts to support universal access to high-quality health information. To date, over 600 health articles have been edited by over 400 editors. The current #CiteNLM campaign structure makes it easy for either individuals or groups to contribute or host affiliated events, which can include classroom exercises, citizen science projects, or library engagement efforts.

Barriers, Enablers, and Consumer Design Ideas for Health Literacy Responsive Hospital Waiting Areas: A Framework Method Analysis

Aim: The study aim was to (1) investigate the barriers and enablers experienced by consumers to accessing and engaging with health tools in hospital waiting areas and (2) evaluate consumers’ ideas for designing a health literacy responsive waiting area. Background: Health information, resources, and supports (“health tools”) in waiting areas should be responsive to the health literacy needs of consumers. However, consumers’ experiences of using health tools and their ideas for improving them are not known. Methods: Multicenter study was set in hospital waiting areas of outpatient rehabilitation services. Semistructured in-person interviews were conducted with 33 adult consumers attending appointments for various health conditions. Seven stages of the Framework Method were used to analyze data. Results: Six themes were identified which explained barriers and enablers from the perspective of consumers. The barriers were accessibility issues; personal factors—physical condition, emotional state, and preferences; and poorly presented and outdated resources. The enablers were design suits consumer needs and preferences; usable in available time or portable; and compatible environment for engaging and sharing. Consumers shared design ideas which fit within four typologies. Conclusions: A range of barriers and enablers exist which have an impact on consumers’ ability to engage with available health information, resources, and supports in hospital outpatient waiting areas. Practical insights from the perspective of consumers can be applied to future health service design. Consumer’s design ideas suggest that partnerships with consumers should be formed to design health literacy responsive waiting areas.

Health Information Resources Accessibility as Predictors for Clinical Decision Making among Medical Doctors in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The study evaluates health information resources as predictors for clinical decision- making among medical doctors in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife. A survey research design was adopted by the study and random sampling technique was used to select 265 medical doctors from a population of 822. Primary data were obtained on socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, level of accessibility, frequency and various core skills of health information resources using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD). Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage and mean. Results revealed that 59.8% of the respondents were male while 51.1% were female. Findings, however, showed that pattern recognition from experience ( &#x0304 = 3.32), critical thinking without emotion (&#x0304 = 3.16), hypothesis updating (&#x0304 = 3.607) and perception based confidence (&#x0304 = 2.97) were the core skills used by the medical doctors in clinical decision making. The focus group discussion emphasized that medical doctors should possess critical thinking without emotions and good time pressure balance in order to make accurate clinical decisions. The study concludes that medical doctors have quality access to health information resources to make clinical decisions. The study, therefore recommended regular trainings of medical personnel on health information resources to ensure accurate and sound decision making in order to enhance optimal performance. Keywords Information sharing, Job satisfaction, Librarians, Private Universities

Role of Libraries in Promoting Health Information Literacy in India

Good health is essential for every human being. Health information is essential for maintaining good health, preventing diseases as well as making sound health decisions. People can only be able to access, utilize, and benefit from healthcare services if they have proper information about these services. It is here that health information literacy comes into play. The information related to every aspect of health is easily available today, but the main problem here lies in finding, selecting, and using relevant health information and preventing misinformation. Libraries have a pivotal role to play here. This chapter is mainly concerned with identifying the gaps in the provision of health information to the general public and the role of health information literacy in paving the way of filling up these gaps. It will be helpful in knowing the current standing of public and medical libraries in providing health information resources and services. It will also suggest the role of these libraries of India in promoting health information literacy among their respective user communities.

Health sciences librarians supporting health and nutrition education in a culinary medicine curriculum

Background: Culinary medicine is an innovative approach to teaching health sciences students and other health professionals the basics of healthy eating, food preparation, and nutrition through applied instruction. It is hoped these professionals will, in turn, share their knowledge with patients. The University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute licensed the Tulane University’s Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine curriculum and began teaching medical, nursing, and other health sciences students as well as community members in 2017. The authors describe a collaboration between librarians and health professionals to connect with underserved community members by teaching the basics of good nutrition and healthy meal preparation.Case Presentation: Two health sciences librarians provided instruction to community members in the use of quality health information resources during various modules of the culinary medicine curriculum. Demonstrations of the use of MedlinePlus and ChooseMyPlate were conducted using topics from module content. Evaluations were distributed after each module to evaluate the effectiveness of the library component, the results of which enabled librarians to subsequently increase their instruction time and implement iPad use for more engaging participation.Conclusion: Librarians were seen as invaluable partners in this innovative program and became an integral part of the curriculum. Evaluation results helped librarians advocate for more instructional time. As a result of their involvement, librarians were given additional outreach opportunities to educate younger populations at risk of developing chronic health diseases.

Health Literacy in Hospital Outpatient Waiting Areas: An Observational Study of What Is Available to and Accessed by Consumers

Aim To investigate: (1) the types of health information, resources, and supports available to consumers in hospital outpatient waiting areas and (2) whether these are accessed by consumers. Background Outpatient waiting areas commonly offer health information, resources, and supports to improve the health literacy of waiting consumers. It is not known what is available to or accessed by consumers in hospital outpatient rehabilitation waiting areas. Methods A multicenter, prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in the waiting areas of two hospital outpatient rehabilitation services. Direct observations (in person and video recordings) of the waiting areas were used to describe what health information, resources, and supports were available and, if present, what was being accessed and for how long by consumers. Results Fifteen hours of in-person and video-recorded observations were documented on purpose-designed instruments across the two sites during 18 observation sessions over 8 days. A total of 68 different health information and resources were identified. Approximately half were specifically for consumers (Site 1: 57%; Site 2: 53%). Only seven (10%) were accessed by consumers across both sites. Each resource ( n = 7) was only accessed once. Health resources were used by consumers for 0.8% (3/360 min) of the observation time at each site. Health and social supports and use of other non health resources were also observed. Conclusions Available health information, resources, and supports were infrequently and briefly accessed by consumers. Further research is required to explore what consumers want and need to improve the health literacy responsiveness of hospital outpatient waiting areas.