MEDLINE plus: Your Gateway to Consumer Health Information on the Web

1. MEDLINEplus:Your Gateway to Consumer Health Information on the Web

2. Objectives • Understand criteria for evaluating web resources • Identify quality resources for answering health questions • Search MEDLINEplus for authoritative health information • Learn about the content and features of other NLM databases • Incorporate tips for effective training

3. Consumer Health Information Any information that enables individuals to understand their health and make health-related decisions for themselves and their families Source: Patrick and Koss, CHI White Paper, 1995

4. CAPHIS Definition Information on health and medical topics provided in response to requests from the general public, including patients and their families. In addition to information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of disease, CHI encompasses information on health promotion, preventive medicine, the determinants of health and accessing the health care system. Source: The Librarian’s Role in the Provision of Consumer Health Information and Patient Education - CAPHIS, 1996

5. Health Information on the Web • Diseases & Conditions • Medications • Tests & Procedures • Medical Research • Health Care Providers • Advocacy & Support Groups

6. Quality Matters • Accurate • Current • Relevant • Evidence-based • Free of bias • Reliable • Understandable

8. October 1998 22 health topics 116,000 hits October 2000 418 health topics Drug information Clinical Trials MEDLINE searches Illustrated medical encyclopedia 2 million hits per month MEDLINEplusHistorical Overview

9. "We nearly decided not to bother listing any other sites after spending a few hours with the remarkably well-edited MEDLINEplus, a service of the National Library of Medicine.” Craig Stolz “Healthy Web Sites for Seniors"Washington PostHealth Section July 18, 2000

10. MEDLINEplus Features • User friendly source • Health information for patients and the public • Quality filtered • Credible sources • Links to MEDLINE searches

11. MEDLINEplus Selection Guidelines • Quality • Authority • Accuracy • Educational purpose • Consistently available • Accessible

12. Health Topics Drug Information Dictionaries Medical Encyclopedia Doctors/Dentists Hospitals Organizations MEDLINE Databases Publications/News Libraries MEDLINEplus Resources

13. MEDLINEplus Options • Choose a topic by letter • High Blood Pressure • Choose a topic by category • Infections • Use the search box • Sickle Cell Anemia

14. MEDLINEplus Demo

15. Online Help • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) • MEDLINEplus TOUR

16. Hands-On Exercises

17. MEDLINEplus:Your Gateway to Consumer Health Information on the WebPart 2

18. MEDLINEplus ClinicalTrials.gov DIRLINE MEDLINE LOCATORplus NLM Gateway TOXNET Overview of NLM Databases

19. ClinicalTrials.gov

20. ClinicalTrials.gov Features • Information about clinical research studies • 5,000 NIH clinical studies • Multiple sources • Browse by condition or sponsor • Excellent user’s guide

21. DIRLINE

22. DIRLINE Features • Directory of Information Resources Online • National, international, federal and state organizations • Health focus • Location, description and contact information

23. PubMed

24. PubMed Features • User-friendly search engine for MEDLINE • NLM’s database of references to articles • Links to selected free articles • Many include summaries • Most articles are written for the health care professional

25. LOCATORplus

26. LOCATORplus Features • National Library of Medicine online catalog • Books, journals, audiovisuals • Search by keyword, title, author, MeSH term or call number • Quick Start Tutorial & Advanced Search Tutorial

27. NLM Gateway

28. Gateway Features • Newest NLM resource • Novice NLM searchers • Simultaneous searches in multiple retrieval systems • Databases, databanks, catalog • Meeting abstracts

29. TOXNET

30. TOXNET Features • Toxicology and environmental health information • Special Topics • Toxicology Tutors

31. HEALTHINFOQUEST Consumer Health: an Online Manual Tools for Librarians

32. HEALTHINFOQUEST • Web Tutorial • Pathfinders • Authoritative resources • Traditional and alternative medicine • Designed for public librarians

33. Consumer Health: An Online Manual • Planning a library • Collection development • Health literacy • Readability analysis • Materials for special populations • Hot topics fact sheets

34. Guides for Consumers • National Library of Medicine Guide to Finding Health Information • National Library of Medicine • How to research a medical topic online - Consumer Reports on Health

35. Tips for Trainers • Assess • Decide • Allocate • Prepare • Present • Evaluate

36. Assess Your Audience • Computer competence • Web experience • Needs and interests • Language and literacy

37. Focus Your Teaching General health sources • MEDLINEplus Specific health topics • Diseases • Drug information • Tests and procedures

38. Allocate Your Time • Lecture • Demonstration • Hands-on Exercises • Questions • Discussion

39. Prepare the Content • Identify three to five objectives • Locate resources • Review web sites thoroughly • Address quality issues • Design/locate/copy handouts

40. Present the Class • Introduce the topic • Demonstrate the resources • Let them search • Answer questions • Review and reinforce

41. Evaluate • Include an evaluation form • Incorporate suggestions and observations • Revise • Re-evaluate

42. Training Resources • National Library of Medicine • National Network of Libraries of Medicine • National Online Training Center

43. National Library of Medicine

44. National Network of Libraries of Medicine

45. National Online Training Center

46. MEDLINEplus • Good information is the best medicine. • Depend on reliable sources • Use current information • Make treatment decisions with your physician Your Information Prescription