Presentation on Outreach to Latinos and promoting Consumer Health Resources

1. Outreach to the Latino
Community: Consumer Health
Information Resources
Brenda Linares, MLIS, AHIP
Outreach Librarian
Health Science Library
UNC Chapel Hill
October 21th, 2015
blinares@email.unc.edu

2. Health Literacy
• Is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain,
process, and understand basic health information and services
needed to make appropriate health decisions.
• Health literacy is dependent on individual and systemic factors:
– Communication skills of lay persons and professionals
– Lay and professional knowledge of health topics
– Culture
– Demands of the healthcare and public health systems
– Demands of the situation/context
http://health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsbasic.htm

3. • The NAAL (National Assessment of Adult Literacy) reported a
relationship between health literacy and race or ethnicity.
White respondents scored better on the survey than other
ethnic or racial groups. Only 9% of White respondents scored
at the lowest (Below Basic) level. However, 24% of Blacks, 41%
of Hispanics, 13% of Asians, and 25% of American Indian and
Native Alaskan respondents scored at the "Below Basic" level.

4. http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/hispanic.html

5. • Culturally and linguistically
appropriate services need to be
respectful of and responsive to
the health beliefs, practices and
needs of diverse
• Patients organizations are looking
to meet the challenges of serving
diverse communities and provide
high quality services and care.
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=1&lvlid=6
Cultural Competency

6. Guidelines for providing health information
• Founded on Standards Reference practices
• Take into account privacy, specialized nature of medical
information
1. Provide a welcoming, safe environment.
2. Be aware of the person asking the question.
3. Get as much information as possible.
http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/ethics.html

7. Guidelines for providing health information
4. Verify medical terminology in a medical dictionary or
encyclopedia.
5. Be aware of the limitations of medical information.
6. Provide the most complete information to answer the
information request.
http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/ethics.html

8. National Library of Medicine
• National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, Maryland
• Center of information innovation
• World’s largest biomedical library
• Coordinates a 6,000-member
National Network of Libraries of
Medicine
• Promotes & provides access to
free health information

9. National Network of Libraries of Medicine
• National Library of Medicine
• NN/LM
– Provide Outreach/Support to
provide health information services
– Training and professional
development opportunities
– Funding for health information
outreach projects
• http://nnlm.gov/

13. Consumer Health Resources in Spanish

14. MedlinePlus en Español
• Encyclopedia in Spanish
• Videos and Multimedia
• Magazine NIH MedlinePlus Salud
– Request Free
• Patient Handouts

15. Tox Mystery
• Fun Game to learn about
chemical exposure at home
• kids age 7 to 10 find clues about
toxic substances
• Guides for Parents and teachers
– Activities
• Hazardous Materials

17. NLM Outreach Awards
• Amounts: $6,000, $10,000
• Promote Consumer Health
Resources
• iPads/Computers/Printers
• Pamphlets
• Free giveaways
• Collaboration between public
and health sciences libraries

18. Outreach
• Health Fairs
– High Schools
– Community Centers
– Flea Market
– Hospitals
• Public Library and Health Sciences
Library
• Medical Students
• Community Organizations
• Nurses
• Cultural Festivals

24. Fiesta del Pueblo

25. Other ideas to consider:
• Develop partnerships
– school librarians
– math teachers
– health teachers
– science teachers
– school nurses
• Work with Adult Basic Education and English as a
Second Language initiatives
http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/hlthlit.html

26. Outreach Ideas
• Health information classes at the public library
• Work with consumer advocate organizations
• Partner with community-based organizations to develop
outreach programs to senior-citizen facilities
• Work with consumer advocate organizations on outreach
programs to vulnerable populations.

27. Thank you!
Any Questions?
Brenda Linares, MLIS, AHIP
Outreach Librarian
Health Science Library
UNC Chapel Hill
blinares@email.unc.edu