Prescription for Success: Consumer Health Information on the Internet

1. Prescription for Success: Consumer Health Information on the Internet National Network of Libraries of Medicine http://nnlm.gov Michelle Eberle michelle.eberle@umassmed.edu

2. Agenda • Consumer Health – then and now • MedlinePlus and more… • Health literacy • PubMed • Hands on…

3. Consumer Health – then and now… • 1972 – Patient Bill of Rights • 2002 – Pew Internet and American Life • 2006 – “Googling for a diagnosis” [BMJ] • 2006 – Pew Internet and American Life • Only one quarter of online health seekers said they always or usually check the source and date of health information online!

4. Realities of health care today • Patients are now asked to make decisions about their own disease process. • Most patients do not have the tools to make these kinds of decisions • Libraries can help!

5. A rose is a rose… • “A high degree of intelligence, tact, imagination, and resourcefulness coupled with such a background of education, professional training, and experience will enable the medical librarian to administer a library efficiently and to assist readers in the use of the bibliographic and other materials of his collection.” • Lucretia McClure quotes Judity W. Hunt from the first edition of A Handbook of Medical Library Practice (1943) • Source: McClure, L. A rose is a rose. JMLA 91(2) April 2003.

6. Health Literacy • The ability to read, understand and act on health information [Pfizer 2002] • The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions [Healthy People 2010]

7. Pop Quiz Open book! Take 5 minutes to answer the 5 question health literacy quiz. We will review the answers together.

8. Why is health literacy so critical? • Essential life skill • Public health imperative • Essential part of social capital • Critical economic issue Source: “Navigating Health: The Role of Health Literacy”, Kickbusch

9. Resources for health literacy • MedlinePlus – Easy to read • easy to read resources and a how to write easy to read page • Ask Me 3, Partnership for Clear Health Communication • 1. What is my main problem? • 2. What do I need to do? • 3. Why is it important for me to do this?

10. Consumer Health on the Internet • The ABC’s of evaluation • Accuracy • Authority • Bias • Currency • Coverage • And, user friendliness

11. Web sites you can trust… • MedlinePlus • NIH Senior Health • Clinical Trials • NCCAM • National Library of Medicine

12. More… • National Cancer Institute • Dirline • Drug Digest • Family Doctor • Health News in Review

13. Hands on Exercises

14. Resources for further information… • CAPHIS • OERC • Public Libraries and Community Partners Working Together to Provide Health Information • The Challenge of Providing Consumer Health Information Services in Public Libraries • National Network of Libraries of Medicine

15. Thank you! Contact information: Michelle Eberle E-mail: michelle.eberle@umassmed.edu (508) 856-2435 / (800) 338-7657 http://nnlm.gov