Role of health libraries in improving health literacy in india

How can libraries help?

Help?

• Health literate – specifically public libraries• Bridge the gap between the knowing, learning

and being positively aware.• Satisfy additional information needs

The health literacy process

Librarians

Outcome

Consumer / Patient

Health awarenessCapacity to take decisions

AccessCommunicateUnderstandAppraise

What we can do ?

Why not internet, why libraries and librarians?

• There is lots of internet these days, !

• Why Libraries ?– Information Professionals - More informed about

varied resources– There are many other resources which are perhaps

better than internet based information– Are literate about resources,– Have skills to analyze and evaluate resource – Can filter through heaps of information that is apt for

the person

How librarians can help

• Writing for patients• Providing booklets• Helping patients access high quality health

information• Internet – – improved awareness of latest information – access to evidence based consumer health

information– amid increasing concern - varying quality of health

information accessed by patients

What is required ?

• Partnerships - different health information specialists, health care providers, and consumers.

• effective communication strategies for disseminating relevant health information to audiences with differing levels of health literacy

Public library system

Why public libraries

• Understand health literacy - within the Region • Communicate relevant information to

people / consumers with differing levels of health literacy - literacy level, type users - age, gender, etc.

The role in nut shell

• To provide access to a range of authoritative materials

• Librarians' activities are oriented towards the social and community goals of producing a healthy society

• assisting the individual to make more informed health decisions.

• Advocacy role