Increasing participation by National Health Service knowledge and library services staff in patient and public information: The role of Knowledge for Healthcare, 2014-2019

BACKGROUND

The strategy lead for the National Health Service (NHS) knowledge and library services withn the NHS in England is held by Health Education England, working with 184 local NHS libraries based predominantly in hospitals OBJECTIVES: As part of the strategic framework Knowkedge for Healthcare, the objective was to increase the role NHS knowledge and library services staff play in both indirect an direct support for evidence-based information for patients and the public.

METHODS

The study took an integrated multi-level approach: encouraging local staff to share their expertise through Task and Finish groups, developing tools, offering training and reviewing levers available through Health Education England's quality assurance role.

RESULTS

Between 2014 and 2019, the percentage of services supporting patient and public information increased from 27% to 78%. Qualitative evidence demonstrates a wide range of roles played by local services, working either indirectly or directly to ensure access to evidence-based health information for patients and the public.

DISCUSSION

The study shows the benefits of engaging people with local expertise in developing the skills and resources for system-wide change.

CONCLUSION

Similar system-wide change programmes should also consider an integrated approach, involving people, developing tools, offering training and drawing on incentive structures such as quality assurance measures.

Screening everyday health information literacy among four populations

BACKGROUND

People face varying obstacles when interacting with health information in their everyday lives.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to examine the applicability of a multidimensional Everyday Health Information Literacy (EHIL) screening tool in detecting people with challenges in accessing, understanding, evaluating and using health information in everyday situations.

METHODS

Previously collected EHIL screening tool data from Finnish upper secondary school students (n = 217), Finnish young men (n = 1450), Finnish adults with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome (n = 559) and Namibian university students (n = 271) were reanalysed to examine the factorial structure of the tool and to compare the groups. Statistical analyses included exploratory factor analyses, calculation of mean factor scores and one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

A three factor structure ('awareness', 'access', 'assessment') for the screening tool was supported based on the Finnish samples. However, the Namibian data did not follow a similar structure. Significant differences in groupwise factor scores were discovered.

DISCUSSION

The findings suggest that the multidimensional EHIL screening tool can be used in pointing out areas where individuals or groups may need support.

CONCLUSION

The tool may be useful to health information and library services workers when counselling or educating the public.

Shaping a Future for Library and CME through Partnerships

The purpose of this article is to highlight the value of a partnership between library services and continuing medical education (CME) teams. Examples of a successful partnership between library services and CME within a health system will be shown. Through team collaboration, library and CME services provide quick access to educational resources and activities which benefit the delivery of optimal health care.

Writing within an international context

For Health Information and Libraries Journal, 2015 has had a distinctly international feel to it, something we have consciously been fostering for the past eight years. This issue is no exception in mirroring the journal's Regular Feature International Perspectives and Initiatives, edited by Jeannette Murphy, in shining a light on the best international practice the health information and libraries sector has to offer.