Consumer Health: Collection Development Services for

Public Libraries

Roxanne Cox

McGoogan Library of Medicine

University of Nebraska Medical Center

November 10, 2005

Introduction

Healthy People 2010

“The health of individuals and communities also depends greatly on access to quality health care. Expanding access to quality health care is important to eliminate health disparities and to increase the quality and years of healthy life for all people living in the United States. Health care in the broadest sense not only includes services received through health care providers but also health information and services received through other venues in the community.”

http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/html/uih/uih_2.htm#deter

The Healthy People 2010 Library Initiative

www.healthlit.org 5 year project launched by American

Association for the Advancement of Science Designed to provide minority groups and

other consumers easy access to current reliable information on selected topics at their local public libray

Provide libraries with health booklets

Collection Development

Process of building collection based on needs of your customers

Recent article with good suggestions*Fuller, H. Consumer health collecting made easy. American Libraries. 2005; 36(5):47-48.

Barriers

Uncomfortable making decisions on medical resources due to:– How do you know if material is good or bad– Who are best vendors, publishers for health

material

First Steps: needs assessment

Library information and statistics

Community assessment

Consult local health care providers, patient educators, local support groups, and local health agencies

Focus groups

Resources

Performing a community needs assessment. In The Public Librarian’s Guide to Providing Consumer Health Information, Barbara Casini and Andrea Kenyon. Chicago: Public Library Association, 2002.

Starting a Consumer Health Information Service in a Public Library. Mary L. Gillaspy. Public Library Quarterly, 2000. 18(3/4): 5-19.

CAPHIS, section of Medical Library Association

Policy statement

Should be written Contains principles and policies by which

material; print or electronic will be selected Policy provides a rational basis for selection

and weeding

Collection Policy

Include– Mission of your organization– Identity of population served– Scope of collection– Statement of who is responsible– Criteria and guidelines for selection– Regulations concerning donations– Updating and weeding policy– Guidelines for controversial material

Selection Criteria

Who is the author/publisher Coverage balanced, any bias Currency Content Readability Reviews Physical quality Fits scope of your policy Cost Information accurate, scientifically based, evidence-based

Evidence-based information

"integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values."

– David Sackett, et al. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM (New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2000)

Avoid resources

Testimonials Reliance on philosophies supercede

scientifically proven theories Resources that push a commercial product Resources that advocate harmful treatment Resources that promote discrimination

A Word About Weeding

3-5 years old 1-2 years old Dependent on subject material

Building a consumer health collection: policies and evaluation guidelines. The Public Librarian’s Guide to Providing Consumer Health Information. 2002. 43-60.

Well-rounded collection

Includes all formats; books,videos,dvds, pamphlets,databases

Large print Culturally sensitive Other languages Accommodate different learning styles Appropriate reading levels

Reading level/literacy

Consumer health material written at level beyond general public

8th grade level is readability level of most material intended for general public

Most consumer material is at 10th grade level

Definitions

Health Information literacy“The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and

understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.[‘

http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume1/07Ed.htm

Core Print CollectionA Sampling

Medical Dictionary General home medical guide Alternative medicine source book Drug information Laboratory tests Procedures System, or best medicine Rees Books / Public Library Book

Print Collection

Don’t overlook what is already in the library’s collection, example: US New and World Reports Annual America’s Best Hospitals.

For the Librarian:Kenyon, Andrea and Casini, Barbara Palmer. The Public

Librarian’s Guide to Providing Consumer Health Information. Chicago, IL: Public Library Association, 2002.

 Rees, Alan M. ed. Consumer Health Information Source Book.

Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003.

CAPHIS links

Medical Dictionary

Title: Stedman's medical dictionary. Edition: 27th ed. Published: Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000. ISBN: 068340007X

Title: Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary. Edition: 30th ed. Published: London : W. B. Saunders, 2003.

ISBN:0721601464

Laboratory Tests & Procedures

Title:The Johns Hopkins complete guide to medical tests : everything you need to know about 170 common tests.Publication:Pleasantville, N.Y. : Reader's Digest Association,Year:2002 ISBN: 0762103639

Laboratory Tests Online brought to you by a collaboration of professional societies

Drugs & Medications

Title:USP DI.v. 2, Advice for the patient : drug information in lay language.Corp Author(s):United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Publication:Greenwood Village, CO : MICROMEDEX,Edition: 25rd ed.Year:2005 ISBN: 07406916 (v. 2)

Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) frequently asked for, but not necessarily the best source

Alternative Medicine

The best alternative medicine / Kenneth R Pelletier

2002 1st Fireside ed. English  New York : Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 0743200276 (pbk.)

Natural medicines comprehensive database 2004 6th ed.Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty

For the Librarian: Rees, Alan M. ed. The Complementary and Alternative

Medicine Information Source Book. Westport, CT: Oryx Press, 2001

10 Best Web sites

MEDLINEPlus English/Spanish Lab Tests Online Cancer.gov Alternative Medicine Foundation Mayo Clinic Centers for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics/FastStats NOAH New York Online Access to health MEDEM:an information partnership of over 45 medical societies healthfinder

MEDLINEplus National Library of Medicine

MEDLINEPlus (by Topic)