Health Information Literacy

"as many as half of all adults in all socio-economic levels struggle with health literacy"
—Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2003

The popular media and professional journals alike are increasingly carrying reports and studies of the difficulties and frustrations health professionals and patients face in coping with the barrage of available information in a way that results in informed health care decisions.

There is a huge need to bring sense to the information universe if MLA's vision of "quality information for improved health" is to be achieved. There is at the same time a significant gap in the awareness by the public and by opinion-leaders and decision-makers of the contributions that health sciences librarians can make (and are making) to bring order to the chaos.

Resources for Health and Information Professionals

Resources for Health Consumers

Resources for Health and Information Professionals

Now available: Two health information literacy tutorials "Prescription for Information: Addressing Health Information Literacy!" and "Prescription: Information! Librarians Working with Health Professionals to Improve Health Information Literacy" were developed by Gail Kouame, Consumer Health Coordinator, National Network of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest Region, for MLA's Health Information Literacy (HIL) Research Project. The first tutorial is for health care providers and the second is for health sciences librarians working with health care providers on health literacy and health information literacy issues. Both emphasize the importance of health literacy and the challenges patients face in understanding medical terminology, the impact that low health literacy has on patient care, health information resources, and health literacy services provided by health sciences librarians. Based upon the health information literacy curriculum, "Putting Information into Health Literacy," developed by Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi for the MLA HIL project, the tutorials are free,but require registration. The tutorials are funded through a contract with the National Library of Medicine: HHSN276200663511/NO1-LM-6-3511.
Health Information Literacy Curriculum
The original Health Information Literacy Curriculum was developed as part of MLA's Health Information Literacy Research Project under a contract with the National Library of Medicine and includes a Powerpoint slide show, a detailed script, notes for presenters, background reading, and tips for librarians, including and ideas quotes from the pilot site librarians that tested the curriculum. There are two versions that can be used with health care professionals in your institution. Please send any feedback about the curriculum to Jean Pugh Shipman, AHIP, FMLA, Co-Principal Investigator for the project.
- 40–50 minute version (Powerpoint, 3.2MB)
- 20 –40 minute version (Powerpoint, 2.3MB)
- Curriculum support materials
  - Evaluation forms (pre- and post-session)
  - Curriculum toolkit ideas
  - Toolkit cover ideas
  - Project inventory (customize)
  - Information Rx tailored samples
  - Information Rx stories from pilot librarians
  - Sample application for CE credit
National Institute on Aging Toolkit for Trainers
Developed by the National Institute on Aging, the Toolkit for Trainers is a free, web-based Internet training program that librarians and computer instructors can use to teach older adults how to access reliable health and wellness information online. The set of free lesson plans, student handouts, and trainer tools are available in pdf format from the NIHSeniorHealth website.
Savvy Searching for Senior Health (printer-friendly handout )
Tips for helping seniors find reliable health information online
Adult Education Health Literacy Toolkit, Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center
Communicating Health Information Literacy, a communications plan developed by MLA's Task Force on Health Information Literacy.
Definitions
Fact Sheet for health educators
Health Literacy Resources
Internet Resources: Health Literacy, a compendium of resources compiled by Cotina M. Jones, O’Kelly Library, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC, for the May 2009 MLA News
Literacy and Information Literacy Resources
"Low Health Literacy: How it Impacts your Patients," by Jean Blackwell, includes tips on improving communication with patients .
MLA's Health Information Literacy program: a brochure for librarians
National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus Health Literacy Website
"Reading Between the Lines: Focusing on Health Information Literacy" MLA teleconference resources

Agenda
Goals
Order the video or DVD by downloading the order form , or through the MLANET online store

Become a specialist with MLA's Consumer Health Information Specialization! For medical librarians, public librarians, librarians working in consumer health libraries, and allied health professionals

Resources for Health Consumers

Find a Library, from the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website
"Deciphering Medspeak" brochures
English | Spanish | Disease-specific | Plain language: help in figuring out the specialized language of health care
MLA users guide to finding and evaluating health information on the web
MLA "Top Ten" useful Websites in English | Spanish
National Institutes of Health Seniorhealth.gov website: health information for older adults
National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus Health Literacy Website
National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus Website: English | Spanish: extensive health resources for consumers
Your Health Record: resources on how to access and understand your medical records, sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)