Combatting Information Fatigue: Health Information Resources for Veterans and Their Families

LYDIA N COLLINS

CONSUMER HEALTH OUTREACH COORDINATOR

NATIONAL NETWORK OF LIBRARIES OF MEDICINE, MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION

Objectives:

Introduction to NN/LM and NLM Understand the unique information needs of veterans and their families

Utilize resources presented to locate reliable, authoritative health information specific to veterans

Acquire skills and knowledge to effectively identify and assess resources not covered in the class

National Network of Libraries of Medicine and the National Library of Medicine

Division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• World’s largest biomedical library• Produces free, authoritative electronic health information resources• 130+ health information databases (PubMed & MedlinePlus)• Not a commercial vendor• Government tax dollars at work!

U.S. National Library of Medicine

http://www.nlm.nih.gov

National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM)

NN/LM, formerly Regional Medical Library Program

Established in the Medical Library Assistance Act (1965)

Mission◦ Provide health professionals and the general public with equal access to biomedical

information

Coordinated by the National Library of Medicine

8 Regional Offices◦ Support Network members to achieve NN/LM mission◦ 5-year contracts

http://nnlm.gov/

Who Can Become Network Members?

Benefits of NN/LM Membership

http://nnlm.gov/mar/services/

Veterans & Their Information Needs

U.S. Veterans

92& of veterans 25 and older have at least a high school diploma

26% of veterans 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree

http://www.census.gov/how/infographics/veterans.html

PTSD – Military Pathways

http://afterdeployment.dcoe.mil/

TAPS

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/sick/2014/03/03/veteran-ptsd/

Veteran Internet Use and Engagement With Health Information Online

Houston, Thomas K,M.D., M.P.H., Volkman, J. E., PhD., Feng, Hua,M.D., M.S., Nazi, Kim M,PhD., F.A.C.H.E., Shimada, S. L., PhD., & Fox, S., B.A. (2013). Veteran internet use and engagement with health information online. Military Medicine, 178(4), 394-400.

Veteran Families Information Needs

"Our nation owes each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our Armed Forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are family members and loved ones who share in their sacrifice and provide unending support."

- President Obama

Each year the President signs a proclamation declaring November Military Family Month. This annual proclamation marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of the Military Family in which the Department of Defense and the nation will honor the commitment and sacrifices made by the families of the nation's servicemembers.

http://www.military.com/military-family-appreciation-month

Military Families

Military Family Appreciation Month was established in 1993 by the Armed Services YMCA, with the U.S. Government recognizing the occasion every year since. Each November, ASYMCA celebrates Military Family Month to demonstrate the nation’s support and commitment the families of military personnel.

http://www.military.com/military-family-appreciation-month

Military Lifestyle

https://www.bluestarfam.org/resources/2014-military-family-lifestyle-survey

MedlinePlus & NLM Resources

Informational Needs

Polytrauma

Chronic Disease

Traumatic Brain Injury

Spinal Cord Injury

Limb Loss

Eye injuries

PTSD and other mental health issues

Health care benefits, insurance, financial issues

MedlinePlus Homepage

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

MedlinePlus In a Nutshell• Over 900 health topics in

English and Spanish

• Drug and herbal supplement information

• Videos and animations

• Surgery videos

• Health Check tools

• Easy-to-read Materials

• Multiple Languages

• Medical Dictionary & Encyclopedia

• Health News

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

MedlinePlus 1

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

MedlinePlus 2

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

MedlinePlus: TBI

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

MedlinePlus 3

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

MedlinePlus 4

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

MedlinePlus: Additional Topics

Suicide

Sexual Assault

Nutrition

Health & Wellness

Family Issues

Bereavement

Stress

Domestic Violence

Personal Health Records

Disaster & Emergency Preparedness

Head Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Wounds and Injuries

Exercise and Physical Fitness

Alcohol

Weight Control

Sexual Health

Talking With Your Doctor

Homeless Health Concerns

and more

American Psychiatric Association

http://psychiatry.org/mental-health/people/military

NIHSeniorHealth

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/

U.S. Dept Vet Affairs (PTSD)

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/types/war/ptsd-older-vets.asp

Evaluating Health Resources

Evaluating what’s out there on the Internet

MedlinePlus: Evaluating Health Information

MedlinePlus: Guide to Healthy Web Surfing

Key Points: Who runs/pays for the site? What is the purpose? Source of info? Reviewed? Current? How are links to other sites chosen? User info collected? Able to contact? Accurate?

NIHSeniorHealth 2

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/stories/ma_william.html

PTSD Symptoms (NIH SeniorHealth)

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/anxietydisorders/symptomsanddiagnosis/video/PTSD_na_intro.html

NIHSeniorHealth Toolkit

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/toolkit/toolkit.html

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Resources

US Dept. of VA

http://www.va.gov/#

VA: PTSD

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/

VA: Research

http://www.research.va.gov/programs/research-health-disparities.cfm

Veterans Crisis Line

http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

VA Research Topics

and more…

http://www.research.va.gov/research_topics/

Libraries and Veteran Health Information Services

Considerations Veterans are Unique group with unique life events and experiences

Skills and coping mechanisms developed during service may be counterproductive or misunderstood in civilian life

Readjustment is a major challenge

Families, friends, caregivers may need assistance coping with changes

Extensive information needs relating to all of the above

Support Veterans by…

Increase staff knowledge of

services/resources for Veterans

Provide Veteran specific information sessions within your

organization

Support or Sponsor a Veteran

organization

Partner with other local agencies

What libraries have

Computers

WiFi

Electrical Outlets

Conference rooms/meeting spaces

Customer-service mentality

Training Workshops/Resume Building

Knowledge of the community

Credibility

Normalcy

Expertise in finding information

Willingness to partner

“Essential community services” (Stafford Act)

And a built-in information-seeking audience!

Photos: Flickr users Clearwater Public Library, Hurstville City Library, Museum & GalleryFacebook page Whitehall Public Library

Springdale Free Public Library

http://www.springdalepubliclibrary.org/

Veterans Business Outreach Center

The Veterans Business Outreach Center has been designated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the Fifth Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) in the nation. The VBOC is in joint partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Massey Center for Business Innovation and Development; which is a part of the School of Business at Robert Morris University.

The VBOC offers one-on-one business counseling, mentoring, workshops, discussion groups, networking opportunities, and entrepreneurial courses to all veterans, current military personnel and spouses, pre/post deployed and National Guard and Reservists who are interested. In addition, all counseling is free of charge.

Veterans Business Outreach Center

Whitehall Public Library

http://www.whitehallpubliclibrary.org/veterans-day/

Libraries Provide Help

•Develop collections that…o provide support for returning soldiers and their families o provide information on specific conditions and information about claiming

benefits o educate and inform the public

• Create pathfinder or LibGuide for online information resourceso local, state, federal resources

Contact your local public library and see what services you can refer veterans to as well as inform them of services your agency provides.

UD Veterans Guide

http://guides.lib.udel.edu/veterans

Ways to partner Health fairs/screenings

Programming-lectures/fitness

Storytimes/Summer Reading

Health Information referrals

Information distribution

Affordable Care Act

Disaster Preparedness/Recovery

Employment Fairs

and morePhoto: Flickr user Monterey Public Library

Want to Partner?

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region http://nnlm.gov/mar/ Funding: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

PA Forward (PA Library Association): http://www.paforward.org/

Information on Collaborating with Libraries

to Serve Veterans and Families

Libraries are uniquely positioned to function as “portals” to information and services that benefit veterans and their families. So consider partnering with your local library whether it’s public or academic!!

Conclusions

Veterans are a unique segment of American population.

Government agencies, educational institutions, and libraries can all contribute to veterans’ success transitioning to civilian life and academic life.

Libraries are uniquely positioned to function as “portals” to information and services that benefit veterans and their families. So consider partnering with your local library whether it’s public or academic!!

Thank You

Lydia Collins, Consumer Health Coordinator

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region

http://nnlm.gov/mar/

nnlmmar@pitt.edu

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with the University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System.