Consumer Health Issues, Trends, and Research: Part 2. Applicable Research in the 21st Century

Part 1 of Consumer Health Issues, Trends, and Research forms the foundation for the further development of concepts discussed in Part 2. Useful ideas can be taken from each article reviewed below, however collectively they outline a range of concepts and practices that can be used in developing and managing consumer health information (CHI) services.

Forming strategic partnerships, working collaboratively with your partners, understanding the community and their needs “in context” and developing culturally competent attitudes, knowledge and skills are the core practices outlined by Nancy Ottman Press and Mary Diggs‐Hobson in “Providing health information to community members where they are: characteristics of the culturally competent librarian”.

“Collaboration and marketing ensure public and medical library viability” was disappointing in the lack of detail given on marketing strategies and practices. Stephanie Weldon focused more on misrepresentation of the work done by librarians rather than on specifics of how to “market our value to the institutions and make administrators realize our worth” (p. 415).

“Health information literacy: a library case study” by Erica Burnham and Eileen Beany Peterson is of particular interest as it is the only article in the series that is about a specialised consumer health information service. The authors provide the reader with an overview of the Neuro‐Patient Resource Center's mission, goals, purpose and collection scope which form the basis for the Center playing a pivotal role in the provision and development of focused patient education and information material, as well as being viewed as part of the parent body's health care team.

Collaborative partnerships between library sectors (health science, hospital, medical and public) and community‐based organisations form the basis for specific population targeted outreach projects which are reviewed and evaluated in “Access to electronic health information for the public: analysis of 53 funded projects”. Lessons can be drawn from the findings outlined which relate to training, website development, publicity and marketing, project evaluation and key lessons learned.

In her short article “Building community bridges for health: consumer health librarians as health advocates”, Michele Spatz discusses principles that can be adapted to foster a successful, evidence‐based partnership when developing local health information initiatives.

Useful information can be gleaned from “Philly health info: the College of Physicians of Philadelphia's Regional Community Health Information Project” which details the development, piloting and future plans of “a community health information system and user‐friendly internet portal created for the delivery of regional health information resources and services” (p. 457).

Barriers to the provision of consumer health information by public library reference staff and barriers to the use of public libraries by the consumers requiring health information are explored in “Consumer health information from both sides of the reference desk”. The findings which cover consumer perceptions and expectations, the nature of health information, ethical issues pertaining to the provision of health information, skill and attribute requirements of the “consumer health information librarian” and guidelines for providing consumer health information will assist any organisation that wishes to provide quality health information services.

Mary Gillaspy in “Factors affecting the provision of consumer health information in public libraries: the last five years” reviews the environmental factors affecting information provision, which included increase in access to the Internet, quantity of health information available on the Internet and in the news, quality of consumer health information, changing health patterns, emphasise on improving health literacy, the impact of war and other traumatic major global events (such as 9/11) and the changing population demographics (in particular the baby boom generation). The author points to the need to understand these factors in order to provided appropriate collections and information services that will aid the consumer in making informed health care decisions.

Finally, Candice Smith, Kara Logsden and Maeve Clark in “Consumer health information services at Iowa City Public Library” outline the successful project that was undertaken to expand access to consumer health electronic resources. The authors hint at using project planning methodology, which includes development of a project strategic plan based on the library's vision and mission, identification and description of the target population, establishing the project goal and deliverables, phased implementation and project evaluation.

Collectively, Part 1 and Part 2 provide a good overview of current consumer health issues, trends, research and services, albeit US centric. No matter one's level of expertise in this area, I would be surprised if you were not able to glean some useful tip, resource, guideline or work practice from one of these articles. A recommended read for the information professional who has an interest in CHI.