Health Literacy: An overview of an emerging field

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, nearly 90 million American adults test below a high school level for literacy skills (Kirsch, Jungeblut, Jenkins & Kolstad, 1993).Because most health materials are written at least at the high school level, this finding has major implications in terms of health care provision in this country (Helitzer, Hollis, Cotner & Oestreicher, 2009). This paper attempts to give an overview of the field of health literacy and includes: a brief background with current definitions; a description of screening and measurement tools; a discussion of aspects of limited literacy; the implications for quality health care; what role libraries might play; and areas of future research

The Public Library as Health Information Resource?

Public libraries have adapted a variety of services into their institutional missions, including: promoting early literacy, publicly available Internet access, children\u27s summer reading programs, and the dissemination of tax forms. Libraries are disproportionately rural institutions, often serving people with limited health care access. Thus, by public demand they have evolved to become important resources for rural health consumers to acquire information. Some public libraries have approached this role by subscribing to health databases, or by providing a link on their homepage to a health resource such as MedlinePlus, but most have undertaken little organizational change to meet growing patron demand. This body of research has attempted to understand the circumstances under which three consumer health efforts arose within or via public libraries, using two strands of inquiry to understand the process of patron health information provision. In the first strand, public libraries in rural Upstate New York were visited, observed and interviewed to understand how, and how well, health reference queries were handled. This assessment of practice was also conducted in a sample of visits in Delaware libraries. There were differing levels of staff knowledge of health information resources in all settings. In the second strand, three unique and dissimilar organizational models for consumer health information provision were studied, using institutional theory as a framework and employing a mixed methods approach. Consumer health provision efforts in Upstate New York and Delaware appear to have interacted in contrasting ways with the affiliated MLS librarians. In particular, print materials on library shelves were the most frequent source of outdated and questionable health information; in Delaware a heavier reliance on online resources led to more instances of authoritative resource provision. In all three examples studied, the perception that medical librarians were of a different sub-culture than public librarians arose and may have created impediments to program effectiveness and sustainability. These findings have implications for library practice, training, and instruction and point to a need for further understanding of the role of public libraries and library staff in providing health information in their communities

Patients’ Health Information Practices and Perceptions of Provider Knowledge in the Case of the Newly Discovered Alpha-gal Food Allergy

Background: Alpha-gal food allergy is a life-threatening, newly discovered condition with limited presence in authoritative information sources. Sufferers seeking diagnosis are likely to encounter clinicians unfamiliar with the condition. Objective: To understand information practices of individuals diagnosed with alpha-gal allergy, how they obtained diagnosis, and their perceptions of health-care providers? awareness of the condition. Methods: Semistructured interviews with open- and closed-ended questions were completed with a chronological systematic sample of 28 adults (11% of alpha-gal clinic patients at the time) diagnosed with alpha-gal allergy and treated at University of North Carolina Allergy and Immunology Clinic. Results: The majority of patients determined they had alpha-gal allergy through nontraditional health information channels. Three-quarters of patients rated their primary care provider as having little to no knowledge. In 25 specialists' encounters, 23 were rated as having little to no knowledge. Conclusion: With new conditions, information is often available through informal networks before appearing in the vetted medical literature. In this study, social connections were the primary pathway to successful diagnosis. Health practitioners need to develop mechanisms to understand that process

Building a community library: preliminary case report of the Kwakupokela Library, Lusangazi, Malawi

This paper chronicles interventions to renovate and repurpose a community library in one of the poorest countries in the world; Malawi, where over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line (less than US$1.25/day). This initial report is based on activities undertaken by a team of individuals with diverse expertise and cultural backgrounds, and a common vision for repurposing the Kwakupokela Community Library. To date, key achievements include: the Kwakupokela Educational Trust has been created and registered with the Malawi government as a non-governmental organization which now operates the library; a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Mzuzu University; new books have been donated; and both new and old library books have been processed; the dilapidated and relentlessly leaking roof has been replaced with new iron sheets; the ceiling has been fixed; and the inner walls painted. More importantly, the library has opened its doors to the community. Challenges remain for this ongoing initiative, and include outdated and limited information resources, sustainability of library operations, space shortages and hygiene issues, including lack of restrooms. Strategies have been developed to deal with the mentioned challenges, though their implementation will depend on availability of resources. This paper describes the role librarians can play in uplifting the living conditions of people in rural areas by taking relevant information resources to these segregated, neglected and dejected communities

Building a Community Library

This paper chronicles interventions to renovate and repurpose a community library in one of the poorest countries in the world; Malawi, where over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line (less than US$1.25/day). This initial report is based on activities undertaken by a team of individuals with diverse expertise and cultural backgrounds, and a common vision for repurposing the Kwakupokela Community Library. To date, key achievements include: the Kwakupokela Educational Trust has been created and registered with the Malawi government as a non-governmental organization which now operates the library; a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Mzuzu University; new books have been donated; and both new and old library books have been processed; the dilapidated and relentlessly leaking roof has been replaced with new iron sheets; the ceiling has been fixed; and the inner walls painted. More importantly, the library has opened its doors to the community. Challenges remain for this ongoing initiative, and include outdated and limited information resources, sustainability of library operations, space shortages and hygiene issues, including lack of restrooms. Strategies have been developed to deal with the mentioned challenges, though their implementation will depend on availability of resources. This paper describes the role librarians can play in uplifting the living conditions of people in rural areas by taking relevant information resources to these segregated, neglected and dejected communities

Work Experiences, Accommodations, and Information in the Context of Fibromyalgia: A Literature Review and Conceptual Synthesis

This paper explores the challenges that individuals with fibromyalgia may experience in navigating the workplace. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, stiffness, sleep disruption, and other symptoms, without a well-defined underlying disease. At work, patients can struggle with various problems, including fluctuating symptoms, exhaustion, skepticism, questions about whether to disclose, and finding ways to adjust work situations. Individuals often lack information concerning how to manage their health, as well as different aspects of their lives, including work. Work accommodations such as extended health benefits, modified schedules, and work-at-home arrangements could help. However, individuals may need to learn how to advocate for themselves, which can include finding information on legal rights and accommodation options. Differences in information awareness and seeking skills can lead to inequities in the management of chronic health conditions in the workplace. We explore extant literature in three parts. First, we review research on the experience of work among individuals with fibromyalgia, and to a lesser extent, other conditions and disabilities. Then, we consider work accommodations, and third, we conclude with a conceptual synthesis. In our analysis, we first identify a need for clearer conceptualization of the role of information to facilitate workplace self-advocacy. Then, we identify gaps in the literature concerning information and information behavior related to work accommodations. Last, we emphasize the need for involvement of stakeholders over time. This paper may be of interest to researchers, health care providers, library and information science professionals, and health policy researchers striving to achieve health equity