ICML 2009: Meeting Room 2 Session 26

Theme: Consumer & patient health information

Time:10.30-12.00
Date: Thursday 3rd September 2009
Chair: Jill Buckley-Smith

A Pilot project to build e-health literacy among university students in Hong Kong
Julia LY Chan, University of Hong Kong, China

Julia L.Y. Chan is currently working in the University of Hong Kong as the Medical Librarian and Team Leader of the Branch Libraries Services Team. Prior to this, she has taken responsibilities in various post including Dental Librarian, Reader Services Librarian and Collection Development Librarian in the University of Hong Kong. She is active in local and international professional activities and was Past President of the Hong Kong Library Association (2005-2006). She was awarded the Fellow of the Hong Kong Library Association and Distinguished Member of the Medical Library Association (U.S.), Academy of Health Information Professionals.

Abstract:
Health literary has been identified as a public health goal for the 21st century and a significant challenge in health education. It is defined in Health People 2010 as: "The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions". With the trend towards a more "consumer-centric" health care system as part of an overall effort to improve the quality of health care and to reduce health care costs, it is important that services and training be provided so that consumer of health care could take a more active role in health care related decisions.

This pilot project is a collaborative effort between the Medical Library, Department of Nursing Studies and Faculty of Law. It aims to raise awareness and foster effective use of health information among university students at the University of Hong Kong. Students will learn health communication, health related legal and ethical issues, analytical and decision-making skills, the ability to apply these skills to health situations and become ‘self-activated, self-responsible’ heath consumers. The key components are the use of case studies and learning the problem-based approach to search for reliable health information via the e-learning platform. The project intends to extend the effort of health information outreach to consumers in hospitals and high schools.

The literature of loss: finding what might be helpful
Denise Brady, St Christopher's Hospice, UK

Denise Brady has been a librarian at St Christopher's Hospice in South East London, UK, for more than ten years. She has also worked as a school librarian, in a public library and as a social worker. She completed a Masters degree in Research in 2000 and is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Information Professionals (London). She organises an annual conference for personnel in hospice libraries in the UK and is a member of the NHS South East London Libraries Group. She is on the project team of the Supportive and Palliative Care Specialist Collection of NHS Evidence.

Abstract:
There are many ways that people can be assisted to cope with major loss. The provision of information on a variety of material written on the subject can be one just one way of doing this. The presentation will focus mainly on the way a variety of books may be able to help bereaved people. Initially four books, each illustrating a different type of bereavement, will be analysed to ascertain the qualities that make them likely to be helpful. This will be followed by some other examples with further pointers as to why or why the written word might (or might not) be considered helpful to bereaved people.

There is a great contrast between examining these issues and those of RCTs and best evidence. Advice may not even be delivered in a health care environment. However, the principles of assisting people professionally with particular needs are the same – empathy, knowledge and experience.

Interpreting the information behaviour of patients and families in palliative cancer care: a practical approach
Ina Fourie, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Ina Fourie is an associate professor in the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Her research interests include information seeking in cancer contexts and current awareness services.

Abstract:
In 2007 an exploratory study was conducted with patients and families in a palliative cancer care setting in South Africa. It was based on semi-structured interviews conducted by an oncology social worker according to a detailed questionnaire. Individual interviews where also held (by the author) with healthcare professionals (i.e. oncologists, doctor specialising in palliative care and oncology nurses) operating in the same setting. The results showed marked differences between the information needs reported by patients and family members, and the information needs and information behaviour of patients and family members as perceived by the healthcare professionals. Apart from using the results of the study to gain a better understanding of information behaviour in palliative care cancer contexts it is important to interpret the result in terms of practical implications and how healthcare settings can make a difference in supporting the information behaviour of patients and families. The paper will focus amongst other things on: allowing for dormant information needs (e.g. patients not realising that they have a need for information and that information may make a difference), encouraging patients/families to note that they may have different information needs at different stages of the disease as well as their psychological well being, encouraging the availability and use of information on emotional and psycho-social issues, allowing for information provisions on issues patients/families find difficult to address (e.g. sexual well-being), considering tailor-made information, and allowing for personal support in contextualising information according to individual situations and needs.