Deborah Chiarella, MLS – University at Buffalo, Health Sciences

Consumer Health Outreach for Special Populations: Targeting The Senior Citizen Demographic
Deborah Chiarella, MLS – University at Buffalo, Health Sciences Library and Lauren Olewnik, MLS – Castleton State College, Calvin Coolidge Library
Problem
Participant’s Comfort Level Using the Internet
Alarming observations made by one author regarding
search and evaluation skills while assisting an elderly
family member with a search for health information.
1 = Uncomfortable Using the Internet
Western New York has a large senior citizen population
and lack of Internet evaluation skills could be a common
concern among this age demographic.
Sought to provide the community with the tools to enable
self-appraisal of health information found on the Internet.
Changing information seeking behaviors among this
demographic would lead to quality searches and result in
more reliable information found.
5% Public Library
5 = Very Comfortable
Family member was willing to rely on results of a Google
keyword search for quality, reliable information.
5% No Response
7
6
Participants
Why another consumer health information
program?
Where Participants Obtain Their Health Information
5
14% Books
4
43% Physicians
3
http://wnyconsumerhealth.googlepages.com/home
2
1
14% Internet
19% Friends
1
2
1 = Not Comfortable
3
4
5 = Very Comfortable
5
Both authors were completing their MLS when program
was conceived, therefore had a flat operating budget.
Free resources had to be investigated and implemented.
Authors took advantage of free Web 2.0 tools such as free
Web pages and Wikis found on the Web to support the
program.
Instant Messaging was used for communication between
authors to edit Web pages and Wiki.
Presenters were able to successfully create and
implement a quality Consumer Health Information
program on a flat budget and support it with Web
resources using free Web 2.0 technology.
Authors found Website and Wiki collaboration effective
from different geographic locales, due to the use of Web
tools.
Consumer health information programs for seniors can be
created by solo librarians and those with small operating
budgets using free Web 2.0 tools.
6
6 = No Response
Recommendations
Based on a survey of initial participants few participants
used the Internet to search for health information. Most
relied on physicians and friends for answers to health
queries.
A survey was conducted following the first session.
Participants indicated that most were not comfortable using
the Internet to search for information.
Googlepages was chosen to host the WNY Consumer
Health Web pages due to the ease of use and ability to be
edited from any location with an Internet connection. This
was necessary since the authors now reside in different
states.
This program could easily be ported and maintained
between libraries due to the use of 2.0 tools located on
the World Wide Web, allowing collaboration between
libraries that are geographically distant.
Grant funding will be investigated in the future to aid in
bringing the program to other venues.
What Web 2.0 technology was used?
What makes this program unique?
Conclusions
http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/dokuwiki/hslwiki/doku.php?id=consumer_health_resources
Results and Feedback
Program presentation was met with positive reviews from
both participants and library staff.
Participants and library staff were introduced to free
quality health resources.
Free Wiki program – DokuWiki was used to compile
information for resource page.
Authors were subsequently contacted by library staff to
request additional information regarding creation and use
of Web 2.0 tools to implement in their library.
Instant Messaging was used for communication between
authors to edit Web pages and Wiki.
Additional presentations have been requested.
http://wnyconsumerhealth.googlepages.com/isthisaqualitywebsite%3F
Podcasts and blogs are under investigation for inclusion
into the current resources to provide supplemental
help and support for seniors seeking reliable health
information.