Health Information and Libraries Journal最新文献

Background: Although university students are young and seem generally healthy, they do have health information needs that affect their academic work. Some university healthcare services and academic libraries collaborated during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide health information to students.

Aims/objectives: The study explored the health information gap among undergraduate students in universities in Ghana.

Methodology: The study involved 382 students from the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, including nine librarians and six university health professionals. Respondents for the study were chosen using stratified sampling and purposeful sampling techniques. A questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide were used to collect the data.

Results: The study revealed limited access to health information for undergraduate students. Male and female students had similar high priorities (personal hygiene, disease prevention, healthy living, mental health) but reproductive health information was mostly a priority for female students.

Discussion: Inadequate access to health information among undergraduate students may pose a threat to avoidable health risks and academic productivity.

Conclusion: Based on the findings, a functional Collaborative Health Information Model for Academic Libraries and University Healthcare Systems is proposed to address undergraduate students' health information needs.

Background: Much government response to improving vaccination uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on the problems of misinformation and disinformation. There may, however, be other signals within online health information that influence uptake of vaccination.

Objective: This study identified the influence of various health information signals within online information communities on the intention of receiving the vaccine.

Method: A deductive approach was used to derive constructs from signalling theory. Constructs were validated by a convenience sample using a questionnaire. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate the measurement model, the structural model and the multigroup analysis.

Results: The analysis showed a significant impact of signals derived from past experience, information asymmetry and source credibility constructs on the perceived quality of the vaccine service. The perceived quality also had a significant impact on the intention to receive the vaccine.

Discussion: Signalling theory was able to explain the importance of health information signals perceived from online platforms on the intention of individuals to receive the vaccine.

Conclusion: Information asymmetry between information provider and receiver, perceived credibility of sources and perceived quality of the vaccination service may influence decisions about vaccination.

Background: Short videos are a way that parents get health information. It is unclear how people seek health information in short videos on musculoskeletal conditions in children.

Objective: To investigate the health information needs of parents of children with musculoskeletal disorders and to examine the factors that influence their perceptions of that information.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 14 parents were conducted, and the resulting interview data were analysed using qualitative content analysis based on the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS).

Results: In this study, we deepened and expanded the CMIS, and four dimensions influenced the perceived quality of health videos. In the 'antecedents' dimension, we subdivided it into four sub-themes: 'health status', 'direct experience', 'salience' and 'social support'. For the 'information carrier characteristics' dimension, we explored 'platform reputation', 'short video characteristics', 'information content characteristics' and 'creator characteristics' in detail. In the 'environmental influences' dimension, we focused on the sub-themes of 'short video traffic', 'others' evaluation' and 'multi-channel verification'.

Discussion: Parents tend to prefer searching for information on short videos. The quality of health information on short videos is primarily evaluated based on external features, which can increase their susceptibility to misinformation.

Conclusions: More short videos on musculoskeletal disorders in children are needed to meet parents' expectations. More effective and informative short videos could be designed based on the identified factors.

Background: Clinical question services offer evidence-based relevant clinical information allowing health professionals to obtain answers in a timely manner.

Objectives: To explore the use and usefulness of Preevid, an evidence-based answering service for clinical questions, among health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study analyses the COVID-19-related clinical questions received in the Preevid service between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022. Particularly, it examines the topic, the type of professional who raised those questions, the epidemic period in which they were made, and the impact of the questions openly published on the Preevid online bank.

Results: Preevid service received 1111 clinical questions, of which 252 (22.7%) were about COVID-19 and half of these (132) were published on the online bank. The majority of COVID-19-related questions were about prevention (57.5%) and were mainly raised by physicians (57.9%) and nurses (34.1%). The Preevid question bank received 25,865,015 online views and it was mainly visited during the first months of the pandemic. COVID-19-related questions had 5,182,723 online views, of which 55% were originated in Spain.

Conclusions: Preevid, the service that gives evidence-based answers to clinical questions, helps health professionals with clinical decision making and clinical practice, also in crisis situations such as a pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 demanded efficient and effective supply of information to the public to help reduce the rate of transmission.

Objectives: This study aims to analyse Omanis' information behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, to help national authorities to prepare for future health crises or pandemics.

Methods: A self-administered online survey involving a structured open-ended questionnaire was conducted via the SurveyMonkey software. Snowball and convenience sampling methods were used to recruit potential participants from social media sites like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Non-parametric testing (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests) assisted in analysis of demographic factors. Descriptive statistical analysis identified trends in information needs and seeking behaviour.

Results: Over 6000 responses were obtained. The results revealed that Oman nationals were seeking information on symptoms of COVID-19, global and national infection rates, preventive measures, treatment and vaccines. Primary sources of information were radio news, Oman TV, international TV, print media, healthcare professionals, international agencies and online news websites.

Discussion: There was little trust of local information sources with many Omanis relying on international information sources such as the WHO and international TV networks.

Conclusion: Public health agencies need to prepare for timely, and reliable information provision during health crises.

NHS knowledge and library specialists support researchers and undertake research. The aim of this pilot programme, delivered as part of the Knowledge for Healthcare Learning Academy offer, was to equip learners from the health and social care library and knowledge sector in England with: the knowledge, skills and confidence to undertake research which adds to the evidence base for the profession; and/or equips them to contribute as a member of a healthcare research team.

Background: Pakistan is a densely populated South Asian country. It is facing numerous health challenges, as well as problems of the digital divide. The government of Pakistan established e-libraries as a pilot project in 2018. These libraries are functioning through community centers/public libraries in the largest province of the country.

Objective: This paper examines the role of Pakistani e-libraries in creating health awareness and providing health information to the public.

Methods: The qualitative research design was based on focus group discussions with the head librarians of all 13 of the 20 e-libraries contacted.

Results: The findings revealed that e-libraries actively create health-related awareness and connect the public to health advisors. The e-libraries were engaged in four types of health-related activities (seminars, awareness campaigns, open health camps, and special health day celebrations) with high attendance from the public. Attendees of these programs returned to librarians with additional health-related queries.

Conclusions: The study suggests a need for more liaison between the community and local healthcare institutions. This approach can make these programs more effective in helping individuals manage their health. The results of this study can serve as a useful guide for other developing nations in developing similar services.

Background: Academic medical libraries, with their dual university/medical roles, face significant challenges in pandemics to provide health information services effectively.

Objectives: To discover the types, characteristics, and weaknesses of health information services of academic medical libraries in China during the COVID-19 pandemic; consider the provision of health information services effectively; and promote this understanding.

Methods: Literature review plus a survey of websites and WeChat public platforms of academic medical libraries from 15 of the top medical universities in China, in respect of the four aspects of health information resources, access, service, and management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Academic medical libraries provided health information services for these four aspects. However, problems such as insufficient integration of health information, insufficient customised and featured health information resources, insufficient cooperation, lack of systematic information literacy education, and lack of professional departments with health librarians are also revealed.

Discussion: Health information services should be improved by strengthening the integration and optimisation of health information resources, enhancing cooperation, strengthening systematic health information literacy education, and building health information departments with professional health librarians.

Conclusion: This study provides a practical reference and rationale for academic medical libraries and health institutions regarding health information services.

Background: The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) concerns achieving good health and well-being for everyone (at all ages) by 2030.

Objectives: Examined the role of medical library staff as mediators of health literacy and health outcomes towards the achievement of SDG 3 in Ghana.

Methods: Eight professional librarians from four medical libraries affiliated with four public universities participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews aligned with the study objectives. The health literacy framework proposed by Squiers et al. (The health literacy skills framework, Journal of Health Communication, 17 (Suppl. 3), 30-54, 2012) was adopted for this study.

Results: Medical school libraries provided timely and relevant information to their patrons as well as health literacy support, but most of their efforts were directed towards their students, instructors, and health professionals, not the general public.

Discussion: The intention of SDG 3 for good health and wellbeing for all is only partially met, as support for health literacy among patients and the public is mostly indirect. Medical libraries in Ghana need to develop more collaborations and outreach activities for health literacy.

Conclusion: The medical library staff successfully support health professionals, faculty, and students, but their mediator role in health literacy requires more collaboration with community representatives.

Background: Good maternal health is essential (UN Sustainable Development Goal 3). Pregnant women need to effectively evaluate and utilize health information for proper health decision making.

Purpose: To examine the ability of pregnant women to evaluate and utilize maternal health information in the Coastal region of Tanzania (a region with high levels of maternal morbidity).

Methodology: Mixed research approach and descriptive cross-sectional design were used to collect data from 132 pregnant women and 8 nurses/midwives using questionnaires and focus group discussions as data collection methods. IBM SPSS version 21 was used to analyse quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data.

Findings: Many of the pregnant women surveyed (64/128) had low or very low perceived abilities to evaluate maternal health information, but most women, according to health care staff, made appropriate decisions to seek help to avoid major risks. The higher the level of education of a pregnant woman, the higher, generally, her perceived evaluation skills.

Conclusion: Low ability to evaluate maternal health information affects the effective utilization of maternal health services. Collaboration between libraries and health facilities is recommended for the repackaging of information in a user-friendly format.