Consumer health information (CHI) in medical libraries

Consumer health information (CHI) in medical libraries: an introduction to information services, challenges & trends

Dean Giustini, UBC health librarian & instructor | [email protected] | LIBR2195 Week 13 | Summer 2011

Canadian consumer health information (CHI) portal Men's Health Pathfinders

Women's Health Pathfinders

Top 100 Canadian Health Websites

mailto:[email protected]

Objectives

• Discuss importance of consumer health information in society• Rise of consumer movements/ lobbying/ activism

• Define CHI & patient education

• Issues in consumer health

• Challenges for libraries & library technicians

• Future trends in consumer health


Vitruvian Man


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvian_Man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvian_Man

• 1940s . Dr. Spock• 1960s . Ralph Nader, Morton Shulman• 1970s . AHA Patient Bill of Rights• 1980s . AIDS lobby, breast and prostate cancer • 1990s . Use of web by consumers • Other . MedlinePlus, patient-physician relationship, public libraries

The rise of consumer health information


http://www.cancer.org/treatment/findingandpayingfortreatment/understandingfinancialandlegalmatters/patients-bill-of-rights


• Consumer health information (CHI) is information on health and medical topics provided in response to requests from the general public, including patients and their families. In addition to information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of disease, CHI encompasses information on health promotion, preventive medicine, the determinants of health and accessing the health care system.

• The Provision of Consumer Health Information – CAPHIS: Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the MLA

What is consumer health information?


http://caphis.mlanet.org/





• Patient education is a planned activity, initiated by a health professional, whose aim is to impart knowledge, attitudes and skills with the specific goal of changing behaviour, increasing compliance with therapy and, thereby, improving health.

• The Provision of Consumer Health Information – CAPHIS: Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the MLA

What is patient education?







Consumer health information

• emphasis on health promotion & empowerment• provided by public and medical libraries • online access is key • linked to support/advocacy groups; initiated by patrons

Patient education

• emphasis on the patient experience• undergoing procedures, understanding illness or disease• provided by health professionals AND library staff• often in clinical setting in advance of patient consent

Major differences & comparisons



Consumer health information

• What is the optimum diet to prevent cancer?• Can you tell me where to find information on avoiding household

cleaning products that are toxic?• How many servings of fruit should I have per day?• What is the best way to exercise? How often?

Patient education

• Can you tell me what happens when you get an MRI?• When I get a bloodtest, what are they looking for?• I have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. What treatments are

available for me?• My doctor has prescribed ativan for me. What is that?

Some sample reference questions


For other questions, see BCLA Continuing Education Workshop 2010


The reference interview in CHI


. respect privacy/confidentiality (in person & online)

. provide a safe, private place

. listen closely, be empathetic

. be aware of emotions & body language

. use reassuring phrases …”I’ll try to help you”

. know limits of your collection & expertise

. refer question if necessary


• BC Cancer Agency website

• DISCERN: Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information

• Health on the Net (HON) Foundation

• MLA User's Guide to Finding & Evaluating Health Information

• MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing

• Patient 101: How to Find Reliable Health Information

• Webwatch Guidelines at Consumer Reports

Tools for evaluation of information


http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/default.htm

http://www.discern.org.uk/

http://www.hon.ch/

http://www.mlanet.org/resources/userguide.html?focus20060921

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthywebsurfing.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthywebsurfing.html

http://www.jointcommission.org/Patient_101_How_to_Find_Reliable_Health_Information/

http://www.consumerwebwatch.org/consumer-reports-webwatch-guidelines.cfm




Challenges for libraries

• Collection development, expertise

• What would be helpful for the consumer/patient?

• Reference interview – referrals?

• Libraries don’t have access to doctor/patient charts

• Do you provide consumer level information only? selective reference?

• Referral - as we do not dispense advice, how is this done properly?



• Emotional issues around disease/prognoses

• Culture, language, general literacy, Canadian context

• Foreign language materials vital

• Literacy - reading level of user to material selected

• “Health literacy” level of person asking

• Privacy, confidentiality

Challenges for libraries (cont’d)


Artist Alireza Darvish


http://bookcollecting101.com/1126/interview-with-iranian-born-book-artist-alireza-darvish/




Future trends

• Consumer health literacy & mini-med school

• Cochrane Consumer Network – http://www.cochrane.org/consumers/about.htm

• Twitter, social networking sites

• Telemedicine e.g., Second Life

• Public library collaborations

• Consumer health classes & services


http://www.cochrane.org/consumers/about.htm

http://www.cochrane.org/consumers/about.htm


Consumer health information (CHI) in medical libraries

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