Information Practices of Disaster Response Professionals: The Preparedness Phase

Objectives: This study describes the information practices of the various professions such as emergency management, public health, health and medicine, and public safety, involved in regional disaster preparedness groups. A thorough understanding of the similarities and differences between the professions in information seeking, use, and sharing, will further the development of high-quality information sources and information-sharing channels acceptable to all professions on the team. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was undertaken. Twelve participants in the Pennsylvania Preparedness Leadership Institute (PPLI), a multi-disciplinary training program attended by members of the Pennsylvania Regional Task Forces, were recruited interviewed. Open-ended individual interviews were conducted at PPLI trainings and in participant workplaces. Interviews focused on information practice in the workplace, including preferences for information seeking and sharing, and barriers and facilitators to information access in the workplace. Analysis used Taylor's Information Use Environments model as an organizing framework. Findings: As Taylor's model states, information practice is shaped by the educational and training requirements for entry into each profession. Factors not included by Taylor but important to this study include volunteer experience in related fields, and overlap between personal and professional information practice on the Internet. Participants report heavy use of the Internet and email, but not of Web 2.0 social media. They value face-to-face meetings for building the social networks critical to disaster response. Only public health and medical professionals use peer-reviewed literature. All would like tools to filter incoming information, and more access to the "lessons learned" reports of other agencies engaged in similar work. Conclusions: There are differences between professions in information practice, but also commonalities that can be exploited to further information use in preparedness. Librarians can make a significant contribution to preparedness efforts by incorporating these findings into the design of information services and resources for disaster professionals. Public health significance: Improving information gathering and sharing practices for all disciplines on the disaster planning team is critical to reducing the impact of man-made and natural disasters on the health of the general public

Illicit and Prescription Drug Misuse among Sexual Minority Women in the United States: A Protocol for a Scoping Review

  Background: The United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) published reports in 1999 and 2011 identifying drug use as a priority area for sexual minority health research, specifically focused on mechanisms contributing to drug use disparities and the development of tailored interventions. Limited research has prioritized sexual minority women (SMW) with the majority of substance use research among sexual minorities focused on adolescents and men who have sex with men. This scoping review will characterize the research literature related to illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among SMW and sub-groups within the SMW population. Through this, we will identify: (1) specific substances used; (2) patterns of substance use; (3) risk and protective factors; (4) prevention interventions; and (5) drug treatment programs specific to SMW. Methods/Design: This review will include studies with empirical data of illicit or prescription drug misuse among sexual minority women. Peer-reviewed quantitative research conducted in the United States and published in English from 2011-Present will be included. We will search Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for relevant articles. Two independent reviewers will screen abstracts and relevant full-text studies for eligibility. Data will be extracted from eligible articles and results will be presented in narrative and tabular form as appropriate. Discussion: This work will identify gaps of knowledge in the research pertaining to illicit or prescription drug misuse among sexual minority women since the 2011 US IOM report. As a result of this work, we will propose directions for future research to address identified gaps

Clinical and academic use of electronic and print books: the Health Sciences Library System e-book study at the University of Pittsburgh

Objectives: The purpose of the Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) electronic book (e-book) study was to assess use, and factors affecting use, of e-books by all patron groups of an academic health sciences library serving both university and health system- affiliated patrons. Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to a random sample (n55,292) of holders of library remote access passwords. A total of 871 completed and 108 partially completed surveys were received, for an approximate response rate of 16.5%-18.5%, with all user groups represented. Descriptive and chi-square analysis was done using SPSS 17. Results: Library e-books were used by 55.4% of respondents. Use by role varied: 21.3% of faculty reported having assigned all or part of an e-book for class readings, while 86% of interns, residents, and fellows reported using an e-book to support clinical care. Respondents preferred print for textbooks and manuals and electronic format for research protocols, pharmaceutical, and reference books, but indicated high flexibility about format choice. They rated printing and saving e-book content as more important than annotation, highlighting, and bookmarking features. Conclusions: Respondents' willingness to use alternate formats, if convenient, suggests that libraries can selectively reduce title duplication between print and e-books and still support library user information needs, especially if publishers provide features that users want. Marketing and user education may increase use of e-book collections