Infopeople Webcast Series: Health e-Shows

1. Infopeople Webcast Series:Health e-Shows

2. Health e-Shows Consumer Health Webcast Series Brought to you by Infopeople and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Southwest Region

3. A Younger Generation of Older Adults: Health Information for Boomers An Webcast Presenter, Kelli Ham, MLIS kkham@library.ucla.edu Monday, October 22, 2007 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Infopeople webcasts are supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

4. Agenda • What’s different about health information services for Boomers? • Health issues and information needs of “younger oldsters” • Resources, Partnerships, Programs • Q&A

5. By age Role (parent, caregiver) Technology comfort level Visualizing Boomers As you can see, it’s freeform and changing!

6. Information-seeking Trends • Self-helpers (all about “me”) • Tech-savvy, mostly • Think “consumers” • Health-e patrons • Healthier...?

7. A Common Theme ”Guess what? They don’t know they’re old!”

8. Collections and Services for Older Patrons: Old vs New • In past years, it was LARGE PRINT • Times have changed. • videos, DVDs, audiobooks • technology • and, still large print materials!

9. Most Common Search Topics Drug Information Treatments Diet & Nutrition Alternative Therapies Diseases Exercise & Fitness

10. Some Health Topics More Popular for Californians

11. Boomers Health Issues and Information Needs • All the regular topics, plus… • conditions related to growing older • caregiving, Medicare, end-of-life issues • navigating health care systems

12. Drinking from the Fire Hose • Unprecedented awareness • Availability of information • Social connections • “Dr. Google’s Office Never Closes”

13. So What’s the Problem? • Self diagnosis… and self-treatment • Lack evaluation skills • Belief system interferes • Overwhelmed by information and choices • The good news

14. The Library… • Offers education • Provides resources • Discerns community needs • Responds with targeted services

15. Remember: Health Reference Interview Tactics • Interview process essential • What role is this boomer playing? Your goal is to provide appropriate, quality resources so your patrons can make informed decisions about their health.

16. OPPortunities for Serving Boomer Patrons • O = Online resources • P = Partnerships • P = Programming

17. They Want Online Resources • Quality is essential • Extend your collection • .gov, .org, .edu sites • Pitfalls and benefits of .com sites

18. Where to Start? • Best resources for different queries is key Patron’s question: “My father has congestive heart failure. He lives with me, and I’d like information that he can read and suggestions for how my family can help. ”

19. MedlinePlus.gov Great place to start for all kinds of health information, including diseases and conditions. With your help, the patron finds the following: • overviews about the disease • an interactive tutorial for her father to watch • a booklet titled “Tips for Family and Friends”.

20. MedlinePlus.gov

21. Heart Failure Health Topic

22. Resources for Complementary and Alternative Therapies Question: “My aunt recently read some “miracle” claims about an herb on the Internet that would cure her arthritis. Are there any good sites that explain if herbs really work for certain conditions?”

23. nccam.nih.gov National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine • nccam.nih.gov

24. Resources Geared to Older Adults Question: “My elderly mother would like to use the Internet to read about her health issues. She has trouble navigating websites and seeing the print though – what can you recommend?”

25. NIHSeniorHealth.gov

26. NIHSeniorHealth Topics Page

27. NIHSeniorHealth – Video Sampling nihseniorhealth.gov/videolist.html

28. Resources Geared to Kids and Teens Question: “I have a teenager and a fifth grader. Diabetes runs in our family, so I’d like some good websites for both of my kids – information on good nutrition and how to get more physically fit.”

29. KidsHealth.org kidshealth.org

30. Communicating with Health Care Providers Question: “I have a hard time talking with my doctor – he’s always in a rush, and I don’t know what questions to ask. Do you have anything that will help me?”

31. Talking with Your Doctor

32. Questions Are the Answer ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/

33. Help Them Evaluate Question: “I’m overwhelmed by so much information – how can I tell the good sites from the bad?”

34. Evaluating Health Information The Health Topic page in MedlinePlus is a one-stop shop!

35. Don’t Stop There! • Health check tools • Interactive sites - mypyramidtracker.gov • Some commercial sites have added value

36. Opportunities to Find Partners Partnerships make sense, because • Mutually beneficial, complementary • Two together can do more than each alone • Extend the library’s reach

37. Ideas for Finding Partners • Local health & fitness programs • Hospital libraries, patient education centers • Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) • State and community directories, 211 • Local AARP chapters

38. DIRLINE & Community Partners dirline.nlm.nih.gov/ nnlm.gov/outreach/community/

39. Opportunities to Draw Boomers in with Targeted Programming • If it’s all about “them”, find out what “they” want! • Involve partners • Make it interactive and worth their time • Evaluate and change gears when needed

40. Idea: A Healthy Year Keep the Beat Calendar: Free resource from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Consider a year-long program on health! emall.nhlbihin.net/ktbcalendar/

41. Embrace Technology Why? Because your Boomer patrons do! • Scan for new trends • Keep learning • Make it relevant

42. Thank You! Kelli Ham, Consumer Health Coordinator NN/LM Pacific Southwest Region UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library kkham@library.ucla.edu