Library and Information Science Commons^™

"What Is A Wave But 1000 Drops Working Together?": The Role Of Public Libraries In Addressing Lgbtqia+ Health Information Disparities, Vanessa Lynn Kitzie, A. Nick Vera, Valerie Lookingbill, Travis L. Wagner

Faculty Publications

Purpose. This paper presents results from a participatory action research study with 46 LGBTQIA+ community leaders and 60 library workers who participated in four community forums at public libraries across the US. The forums identified barriers to LGBTQIA+ communities addressing their health questions and concerns and explored strategies for public libraries to tackle them.

Design/methodology/approach. Forums followed the World Café format to facilitate collaborative knowledge development and promote participant-led change. Data sources included collaborative notes taken by participants and observational researcher notes. Data analysis consisted of emic/etic qualitative coding.

Findings. Results revealed that barriers experienced by LGBTQIA+ communities are structurally …

Challenges Faced By Pregnant Women In Information-Seeking In The Tamale Metropolis, Joana Dango, Stephen Okyere

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study explored the stages of pregnancy at which pregnant women seek information from various sources and the challenges pregnant women encounter in seeking information. A Mixed-method approach was used to carry out the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 148 pregnant women from three hospitals namely, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale West Hospital, and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Interviews were conducted with three midwives, one from each hospital, and a Gynecologist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The findings of the study revealed that the main challenges that were identified include lack of funds, non-use of the …

Access To Health Information Among Pregnant Women In Morogoro Municipal, Tanzania, Ronald Benard Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

he purpose of this study was to assess the accessibility of health information among pregnant women in Morogoro Municipality in Tanzania. This study was conducted in four main health stations (hospitals) which were selected purposively. This cross-sectional study involved 80 pregnant women who were randomly selected. Data were obtained by using questionnaires. Results showed that pregnant women in the study area expressed various information needs, categories of most needed health information were: information on miscarriage, information on immunization, and information on breast feeding. Moreover, results revealed that information on delivery and family planning were highly accessible. Moreover, the study results …

Availability And Accessibility Of Health Information To Women In Rural Community, Elemere, Moro Local Government, Kwara State, Olamide Hammed Olaiya, Marcus Oladotun Aragbaye, Omolara Deborah Akintobi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research work investigates the availability and accessibility of health information by rural women in Elemere communities of moro local government, Kwara state. Questionnaire and interviews are major instruments used for data collection which was done by examining relevant documents to obtain necessary information 10 set of questionnaire were administered to health workers and health information providers in which all the 10 questionnaires were retrieved. Interviews were conducted on forty (40) rural women. the study selects reconnaissance survey for its design. The data gotten from the study area was further analysed with the use of descriptive techniques such as frequency …

Application Of The Markov Chain Method In A Health Portal Recommendation System, Xin Cai

Theses and Dissertations

This study produced a recommendation system that can effectively recommend items on a health portal. Toward this aim, a transaction log that records users’ traversal activities on the Medical College of Wisconsin’s HealthLink, a health portal with a subject directory, was utilized and investigated. This study proposed a mixed-method that included the transaction log analysis method, the Markov chain analysis method, and the inferential analysis method. The transaction log analysis method was applied to extract users’ traversal activities from the log. The Markov chain analysis method was adopted to model users’ traversal activities and then generate recommendation lists for topics, …

‘Access Necessitates Being Seen’: Queer Visibility And Intersectional Embodiment Within The Health Information Practices Of Queer Community Leaders, Travis L. Wagner, Vanessa Kitzie

Faculty Publications

Navigating healthcare infrastructures is particularly challenging for queer-identifying individuals, with significant barriers emerging around stigma and practitioner ignorance. Further intersecting, historically marginalised identities such as one’s race, age or ability exacerbate such engagement with healthcare, particularly the access to and use of reliable and appropriate health information. We explore the salience of one’s queer identity relative to other embodied identities when navigating health information and care for themselves and their communities. Thirty semi-structured interviews with queer community leaders from South Carolina inform our discussion of the role one’s queer visibility plays relational to the visibility of other identities. We find …

Misinformation, Indigenous Health Information And Hiv Prevention Among In- School Adolescents, Uganda, Olivia Nina Rugambwa Lecturer, Ruth Nalumaga Deputy Librarian -Associate Professor, J.R Ikoja-Odongo Professor -Information Science, Maxwell Otim Onapa Director Of Science, Research And Innovation

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

HIV/AIDS is still a major killer disease among adolescents in sub- Saharan Africa and Uganda in particular. There are many factors attributed to high HIV infections among young people in Uganda such as, multiple sexual partners, low condom use, those born with HIV and poverty. High level misinformation in the indigenous knowledge related to sexuality and HIV prevention remains an under investigated and under documented factor escalating the disease. Yet, the indigenous knowledge health information system is a major critical information source adolescents depend on for health information on HIV prevention in Uganda. Indigenous knowledge informs health interventions for HIV …

Consumers’ Health Information Seeking Behaviour On Social Media: A Case Study Of Lautech Teaching Hospital Library And Lautech College Of Health Sciences Medical Library In Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria., Yemisi Oluremi Oladapo, Moses Oladele Adeoye, Susanah Olayinka Tomomowo-Ayodele, Isau Adewole Adegun

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study was conducted to investigate the consumers’ health seeking information behaviour on social media using LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Library and LAUTECH College of Health Sciences Medical Library as a case study. The web of Science Core Collection and healthcare database was searched for existing literature on consumer health information seeking on social media. The study employed the use of Quantitative research method. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprises 250 consumers of health information while 234 was retrieved and used for this study. Questionnaire containing structured question was designed and administered to …

Digital Literacy For Covid 19 Information In Indonesian Society, Dessy Harisanty, Dyah Puspita Srirahayu, Nove E. Variant Anna, Endang Fitriyah Fitriyah Mannan, Esti Putri Anugrah, Nasa Zata Dina

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In the midst of the COVID19 pandemic situation, hoax news emerged that made people panic and make wrong decisions. The emergence of this hoax is because many people are not literate with information, so they trust all the information entered. People also do not have the social awareness to filter the information they get. This study aims to describe the level of literacy of the digital community towards COVID19 information measured on the internet. The research method used is a descriptive type with a survey method. The research location was in East Java, with a total of 500 respondents consisting …

The Use Of Internet For Seeking Health Information Among Narh-Bita College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Tema, Ghana., Zakaria Abukari

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The Internet provides information on a variety of subjects including health-related information. Access to Internet health information could potentially promote healthy adolescents' lifestyles. Consequently, this may reduce the number of common illness among the youth and thereby reducing the overall cases at health centers. This study was carried out to examine the use of Internet for seeking health information among Narh-Bita College students, Tema, Ghana. The study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey with a convenience sampling method. The study covered one hundred and sixty-one (161) students. The findings of the study revealed that almost all the students were active users …

Contextualizing Wilson’S Information Behavior Model In Seeking Indigenous Information For Hiv Prevention Among Adolescents In Secondary Schools, Uganda, Nina Olivia Rugambwa, Martha Lyaka, Lois Nankya Mutibwa

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Effective communication of quality health information in emergency situations is critical in curbing the spread of diseases. Health programs promoting both biomedical and indigenous representations in HIV prevention have been found to be more effective than those that ignore lay representations. Nonetheless, there is still limited documentation on indigenous information supporting health choices among adolescents in secondary schools in Uganda. Besides, the information sources from where adolescents seek this information are not clear. This paper presents Wilson’s Information Behavior model as the theoretical anchor used to understand how utilization of Indigenous information can be enhanced among adolescents for improved health …

Accessibility Of Health Information Provided By The Clinics In The Capricorn Region In The Limpopo Province, South Africa, Maoka Dikotla Dr, Lethabo Ledwaba Mr, Morongoenyane Ntsala Ms

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Health information is a weapon that provides people with much-needed knowledge about self-care management, especially in the rural areas, where only clinics are the key players in the provision and dissemination of such information. The purpose of the study was to investigate the accessibility of health information provided by the clinics in the rural areas of the Capricorn region of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The study employed the qualitative research method. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with the community members who visited the clinics at the time of the data collection. The negative attitude displayed by the healthcare …

Student Research Journal, Volume 10, Issue 1, Student Reseach Journal

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Librarians In Health Information Provision For Depression Reduction, Julie Enamen Ilogho, Amos Alao Professor, Olujide Adekeye Professor, Abiodun Gesinde Professor, Susan Adeusi Dr, Ben Agoha Dr, Jerome Idiegbeyan-Ose Dr, Goodluck Ifijeh, Odaro Osayande, Roland Izuagbe

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper examined the role of information provision by librarians for the healthcare of depressed and non-depressed people. The objectives examined include: identifying the factors causing depression, examination of various ways in which librarians support healthcare givers and care of the depressed people with useful information. A literature search was carried out using online databases and general google search (Sciencedirect, Scopus, Jstor and Google Scholar, Jstor and general google search). The paper concludes that provision of relevant, accurate and current information promotes greater awareness and understanding among the depressed and delivery of quality healthcare. The paper recommends that government should …

How One Library's Location Change Impacted Health Information Requests: Comparing Zip Codes And Health Disparities To Shape Library Services, David Petersen, Kelsey Grabeel, Cameron Watson

Southern Chapter/Medical Library Association Annual Conference

Objective In 2014, the Preston Medical Library underwent a radical change, moving from an academic office building to the main floor of a regional medical center. While the library previously served the public, health information requests have substantially increased in volume due to the new location. Each health information request is logged with the subject nature and patron contact information. The objective is: to analyze this data to see if our reach has expanded to counties that previously have not used the service, to see which counties request the most health information, and to ascertain whether more requests are from …

Health Sciences Libraries: Supporting Public Libraries Supporting All Of Us, Leah Cordova, Alexandria Quesenberry, Hilary Jasmin

Southern Chapter/Medical Library Association Annual Conference

Title: Health Sciences Libraries: Supporting Public Libraries Supporting All of Us

Objective: Public libraries are known for being community-centered institutions providing equitable access to information and resources, playing an important role in improving individuals' access to health-related information. This project aimed to examine the perceived role and current practices of inner-city public librarians in delivering health-related information to members of their community.

Methods: An online survey was created using Qualtrics and distributed to branch libraries within a single library system serving diverse socioeconomic and demographic groups. The survey consisted of eighteen multiple choice and open-ended questions. Information was collected around …

Kyai Vs Internet And Media The Influence Of Media And The Internet In Health Material Learning In Traditional Islamic Boarding Schools (Tibss) In West Java, Indonesia, Atwar Bajari, Uud Wahyudin, Dedi Rumawan Erlandia

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Information technology affects the views and behavior of users and their environment. In the early decades, Traditional Islamic Boarding School (TIBSs) prohibited the use of communication and information technology. TIBSs experienced a shift to be increasingly open to the media and the internet. A strict prohibition on the use of media in Islamic boarding schools influences their insights about their health problems. To ensure the influence of media and internet on students’ life in TIBS, this research was conducted aiming at explaining the use level of media and internet by students in seeking health information, and the influence of …

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome On Health Information Websites: How Much Credible They Are?, Shahabedin Rahmatizadeh, Saeideh Valizadeh-Haghi, Arefeh Kalavani, Nadereh Fakhimi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: The most recent MERS outbreak has raised questions about prevention and symptoms since there is currently no vaccine to prevent MERS. People can help protect themselves from this illness by taking everyday preventive actions. To do so, it is helpful to get medical information on the Internet about this illness. Regarding the importance of ensuring the provision of accurate online information, the aim of this study was to assess the credibility of health websites about MERS by using HONcode tool.

Materials and methods: The term “MERS” was searched in Google, Yahoo, and Bing and the first three pages …

Assessment Of Cervical Cancer Health Literacy Among Female Secondary School Teachers In Anambra State. Nigeria., Ejeagwu Nwafor-Orizu, Obiageli Fidelia Emelumadu Prof, Achunam Simeon Nwabueze Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Background: cervical cancer health information equips women with basic knowledge that enables them to take informed decisions to prevent and control infection. Cervical cancer awareness will help curtail the raising trend of cervical cancer disease among Nigerian women.

Purpose: the research was carried out to assess the cervical cancer literacy level of female secondary school teachers in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Design: it is a descriptive survey of 3,031 female secondary school teachers.

Findings: the research outcome shows that the respondent’s cervical cancer health literacy level is low. This is in terms of their knowledge and awareness of the risk …

Communities And Libraries In Times Of Crisis: A Journey Of Knowledge Inquiries In South Carolina, Feili Tu-Keefner

Faculty Publications

In October 2015, several counties in South Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding that caused severe damage. Using a framework for risk communication preparedness and implementation recommended by public health experts, this study investigated public libraries and their legitimacy as partners of public health agencies during and after a disaster. The results show that the libraries in the areas affected created disaster-recovery centers, illustrating their value in facilitating emergency response and recovery. However, the findings also show librarians were not fully prepared to provide disaster and health information, especially through online venues. Information and technology literacy issues created barriers for community members …

Health Information Behaviour Of Graduate Students On The Internet: Sources, Trust And Reliability Of Information, Setsoafia A. Y. Humphrey-Ackumey, Musah Adams, Michael Ahenkorah-Marfo

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study sought to investigate the health information behaviour of graduate students on the internet. A quantitative method using a cross-sectional survey was used to solicit information from 256 graduate students studying courses related to health in the Arts, Social, and applied Sciences. The results showed that most of the respondents preferred the Internet because it is timely, fast and provides information from different sources simultaneously. The type(s) of health information mostly sought for were general information on healthy lifestyle, specific disease or treatment, side effects of medications, new development in the medical field among others. Majority (90.9 %) of …

An Investigation Of Autism Support Groups On Facebook, Yuehua Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

Autism-affected users, such as autism patients, caregivers, parents, family members, and researchers, currently seek informational support and social support from communities on social media. To reveal the information needs of autism- affected users, this study centers on the research of users’ interactions and information sharing within autism communities on social media. It aims to understand how autism-affected users utilize support groups on Facebook.

A systematic method was proposed to aid in the data analysis including social network analysis, topic modeling, sentiment analysis, and inferential analysis. Social network analysis method was adopted to reveal the interaction patterns appearing in the groups, …

Cervical Cancer Health Literacy Among Female Librarians In Imo State, Nigeria, Ejeagwu Nwafor-Orizu, Gertrude C. Umunnakwe, Oliver-Theophine Uchenna Onwudinjo Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Purpose: to assess the cervical cancer knowledge of female librarians in Imo State. The assessment was in terms of the risk factors; signs and symptoms, screening and control.

Design: It was a descriptive survey of female librarians in Nigeria.

Findings: Female librarians have very poor knowledge of cervical cancer health in all its ramifications. And up-take was abysmally low (5%). Urgent intervention is needed to raise their awareness.

Originality/Value: It is the first survey of librarians’ cervical cancer health literacy in Nigeria. Data collected provides good bases for intervention and policy.

Keywords: Librarians, cervical cancer, health literacy, cervical …

Healthy Lifestyles And Job Performance Of Academics: A Theoretical Perspectives, Idayat Odunola Agboola Mrs, Chinyere Nkechi Ikonne Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The health related lifestyle behavior has been neglected in Nigerian Universities and as such causing deaths among the lecturers. Living a healthy lifestyle could reduce heart diseases, blood pressure and diabetes. The study adopted survey method. The population of the study was 5,310 lecturers across the six Federal Universities in South West, Nigeria. From the population, 372 were sampled. Structured questionnaire were used to collect data. From the 372 copies of questionnaire distributed; 278 were returned which gave 75% response rate. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean, standard deviation as well as relationship. Findings revealed that all information gathered on …

Health Information Literacy And Competencies Of Information Age Students: Results From The Interactive Online Research Readiness Self-Assessment (Rrsa), Lana Ivanitskaya, Irene O'Boyle, Anne Marie Casey

Anne Marie Casey

This study aimed to measure the proficiency of college-age health information consumers in finding and evaluating electronic health information; to assess their ability to discriminate between peer-reviewed scholarly resources and opinion pieces or sales pitches; and to examine the extent to which they are aware of their level of health information competency.

The Him Career Matrix: Illuminating A Framework For Professional Advancement, Elaine M. Zibrowski, Kelly J. Adams

FIMS Presentations

This project sought out to develop the first, Canadian HIM career matrix in order to:

1. Support a common language to describe the seven core competency areas in which HIM professionals can work;

2. Describe new and evolving roles in HIM in Canada;
3. Provide information on advanced career options available within our profession; and
4. Seek consensus around the common functions performed by Canadian HIM professionals

The Value Of Public Libraries During A Major Flooding: How Digital Resources Can Enhance Health And Disaster Preparedness In Local Communities., Feili Tu-Keefner

Faculty Publications

In October 2015, several counties in South Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding that caused severe damage, including loss of residential homes and other calamities. Using a framework for risk communication preparedness and implementation about pandemic influenza for vulnerable populations recommended by public health experts, this case study investigates public libraries’ value to their communities and their legitimacy as partners of public health agencies during and after a disaster. Public libraries’ situation-specific information services in the target areas affected by flooding during and after the disaster were explored. The methodology was qualitative-based. Focus-group meetings with public library administrators and librarians, one-on-one interviews …

Relationship Between Library Resources And Research Productivity In Five Nigerian Health-Based Research Facilities, Chigozie Simeon Ugwuona Dr., Virginia Winsell Dike Professor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study of the relationship between library resources and research productivity in five Nigerian health research facilities was conceived majorly to investigate the relationship existing between these two variables. The study employed a descriptive survey design to undertake a population of 198 research staff in the five research centres (out of this number, 166 were actually used). Questionnaire and observation check list were used to collect data which were presented in tables and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient (r) was applied to determine the relationship while hypothesis was tested with t-statistics at 0.05 probability level. …

Access To Information And Implications For Healthy Ageing In Africa: Challenges And Strategies For Public Libraries, Ifeanyi J. Ezema, Richard N. Ugwuanyi Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The elderly people are of intrinsic value to societies. Their health is Africa’s wealth. Unfortunately, Africa has serious health burden raging from diseases, poverty ignorance that hardly support healthy ageing. Development indicators from World Health Organization and the World Bank provide glaring evidence that Africa countries are far behind other regions of the world in health conditions of the citizens. This paper discusses the benefits that accrue from having a healthy old age population. Such includes poverty reduction, stress free ageing, assisting in taking care of young ones. It examines the role of information in enhancing healthy ageing in Africa. …

Text 4 Health: Addressing Consumer Health Information Needs Via Text Reference Service, Van M. Ta Park

Van M. Ta Park

This study seeks to provide empirical evidence about how health-related questions are answered in text reference service in order to further the understanding of how to best use texting as a reference service venue to fulfill people’s health information needs. Two hundred health reference transactions from My Info Quest, the first nation-wide collaborative text reference service, were analyzed identify the types of questions, length of transactions, question-answering behavior, and information sources used in the transactions. Findings indicate that texting-based health reference transactions are usually brief, and cover a wide variety of topics. The most popular questions are those seeking general …