RE: what motivates consumers to seek out info?

From Susan.McIntyre@METROKC.GOV Mon Apr 28 15:51:05 2003 Received: from mxu4.u.washington.edu (mxu4.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.12.1+UW03.04/8.12.1+UW03.02) with ESMTP id h3SMp41M042276 for ; Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:51:04 -0700 Received: from keyimc.metrokc.gov (keyimc.metrokc.gov [146.129.177.160]) by mxu4.u.washington.edu (8.12.1+UW03.04/8.12.1+UW03.02) with ESMTP id h3SMp285015595 for ; Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:51:03 -0700 Received: by KEYIMC with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) id ; Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:51:01 -0700 Message-ID: From: "McIntyre, Susan" To: "'Harris, Margo '" , "'Discussion on providing Health Information '" Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek out info? Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:50:53 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C30DD8.9F3EDCE0" X-Uwash-Spam: Gauge=IIIIIIII, Probability=8%, Report="CALL_FREE, EXCHANGE_SERVER, MAILTO_LINK, MIME_NULL_BLOCK, SPAM_PHRASE_01_02, __EVITE_CTYPE, __HAS_X_MAILER" This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C30DD8.9F3EDCE0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I think that we need to have a deeper/better understanding of how we impact information seeking. For instance, the Medline Plus database has different "features" at different times. Right now they have a Current Health News section with the following headlines: WHO Says Worst of SARS is Over in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Canada Pain Undertreated in Toddlers Cholesterol Drugs May Improve Alzheimer Risk Marker More news I wonder how many people came to Medline looking for other information and ended up reading one of those articles because it caught their attention? I bet that the websites of our "public libraries" do much of the same thing. I know that many times I have found great information in a serendipitous. I was looking for one thing and ran across another helpful thing. I think that all libraries can be more actively aware of how our websites, shelf displays, bulletin boards etc. can lead people to further information that they may not have realized that they were looking for, or needed or existed. Additionally, paying clear attention to how things are displayed can make patrons more likely to feel able to ask questions. There has been quite a bit of work on making clinics, social service agencies and other offices more welcome to clients. How we present ourselves and our "information resources" will have an impact on information seeking. Anyway... Further thoughts. Susie -----Original Message----- From: Harris, Margo To: Discussion on providing Health Information Sent: 4/28/03 9:05 AM Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek out info? I think that is an important point or two points! It's true that people may not ask, and there is a need to provide "information finding resources" in a number of different formats. What we're learning in our key informant interviews for our new project is that some parents don't ask for the information that they need and want because they are unsure of how sensitive a response they will get. To the parents, it's a risk to state the health issue out loud to a third party and wait to hear the librarian's response. Margo Margo Harris, Health Educator Center for Children with Special Needs Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center P.O. Box 50020, Seattle, WA 98145-5020 MS: S-219 margo.harris@seattlechildrens.org new voice phone - 206/987-5259 fax: 206/987-5705 http://www.cshcn.org -----Original Message----- From: Louise Sullivan [mailto:lsullivan@spokanelibrary.org] Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2003 8:45 AM To: Discussion on providing Health Information Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek out info? I agree that traditionally librarians have waited for people to ask for information. However, people are not always aware that a library has certain information or certain resources to find that information. People are motivated to seek out information that is relevant for their specific needs but they may not know how to find that information. That's where I think that libraries can be proactive. Not necessarily on the specific kinds of information but to assist people in finding reliable information. That's where classes and outreach to groups and organizations outside of the library are useful. As a public librarian, we see many people who need information about health issues. However, many of these people will not necessarily ask for assistance. Having finding tools both in paper and computer formats offer assistance to people who may not ask for assistance. Louise Sullivan Reference Librarian Spokane Public Library At 07:23 PM 4/24/03 -0800, you wrote: >I guess in the case of very important public health information librarians >should be proactive and target information to the people who need it and can >integrate it into their messages designed for specific high risk >populations. I'm sure people who craft messages about high risk sexual >behaviors to prevent STD/AIDS would be glad to add a caveat in their written >materials, posters, etc. that they create if they had good sources of >information. But I think traditionally librarians have waited for people to >ask for information as opposed to getting the info out to people. So part >of the role of the librarian is to screen info and anticipate who needs it >and will use it. Anyhow, I'm going to try to not do anymore pc work >tonight. Judith > >-----Original Message----- >From: McIntyre, Susan >To: 'Bendersky, Judith '; 'Discussion on providing Health Information ' >Sent: 4/24/2003 6:56 PM >Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek out info? > >I think that most of the time, people seek out health information for a >specific purpose, but what is the role of the librarian when we have >important information that people don't seek out. > >For example, in the past few years research has made it clear that >Nonoxynol-9 (a common spermicide found in sexual lubricants) can >actually increase the risk of HIV infection (and possibly other STDs.) >This is extraordinarily important information for consumers (especially >consumers at risk of HIV infection) to have, but very few people are >going to search out information about the safety of their lubricant >especially since health officials have previously recommended >Nonoxynol-9. > >Obviously, it is the job of health educators, journalists and health >care providers to disseminate this information to persons who need it, >but (back to my original question) what is the role of the librarian? >We know that how we display things impact what things are accessed. How >things are arranged on our websites, catalogs and shelves impact what >information the public "finds." How should we as ibrarians work with >consumers to encourage/promote such new information that may be >important for our clients, but they may not be looking for themselves? >Or is that beyond our role? Should we refrain from all promotional >activities? (Not that I think that is possible.) > >Just wondering about others' perspectives. > >Susie McIntyre >Health Educator/Resource Librarian > >-----Original Message----- >From: Bendersky, Judith >To: Discussion on providing Health Information >Sent: 4/24/03 4:50 PM >Subject: what motivates consumers to seek out info? > >Dear all on the resurrected consumer heatlh advisor committee, > >I'm partly writing to get some correspondence going, and partly to pose >a >question. Yesterday one of my own kiddos looked awful. It turns out >she >had gotten some garlic in her eyes on Tue while I was away in Juneau. >It >was already Wed. and I found out what had happened. With shelves of >book in >the house and a pc on cable modem, I thought the most efficient way to >find >out what to do would be do go to the web, and perhaps it is. I searched > >high and low, google and specific clinic sites, etc. and couldn't find >out >how to handle the first aid for the eyes question I had (to irrigate, to > >rush to E.R, etc). I struggled with terms such as first aid, emergency, > >ophthalmic, chemical burn, you name it. I didn't find what I was >looking >for. > >My ophthalmic tech friend wasn't home, and I couldn't reach the eye doc >in >town that I know. In the end I called the E.R. and got advice. >Regarding >the question of what motivates people to seek out information, I'd have >to >say in this case it's for specifically applicable help. Do others seek >out >information just for the heck of it? > >Judith Bendersky, M.S., MPH Project Coordinator >Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education >PO Box 240249 >Anchorage, AK 99524-0249 >tel. 907-269-8994 toll free 800-709-8990 FAX 907-269-8995 > >judith_bendersky@health.state.ak.us >http://www.hss.state.ak.us/gcdse > >"To not transmit an experience is to betray it." --Elie Wiesel > > Louise Sullivan Reference Librarian Spokane Public Library Ph: 509-444-5336 Fax: 509-444-5364 lsullivan@spokanelibrary.org ------_=_NextPart_001_01C30DD8.9F3EDCE0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable RE: what motivates consumers to seek out info?

I think that we need to have a deeper/better = understanding of how we impact information seeking. For instance, = the Medline Plus database has different "features" at = different times. Right now they have a Current Health News = section with the following headlines:

WHO Says Worst of SARS is Over in Singapore, = Hong Kong, Vietnam, Canada
Pain Undertreated in Toddlers
Cholesterol Drugs May Improve Alzheimer Risk = Marker
More news

I wonder how many people came to Medline looking for = other information and ended up reading one of those articles because it = caught their attention? I bet that the websites of our = "public libraries" do much of the same thing. I know = that many times I have found great information in a = serendipitous. I was looking for one thing and ran across another = helpful thing. I think that all libraries can be more actively = aware of how our websites, shelf displays, bulletin boards etc. can = lead people to further information that they may not have realized that = they were looking for, or needed or existed.

Additionally, paying clear attention to how things = are displayed can make patrons more likely to feel able to ask = questions. There has been quite a bit of work on making clinics, = social service agencies and other offices more welcome to = clients. How we present ourselves and our "information = resources" will have an impact on information seeking. =

Anyway...

Further thoughts.

Susie

-----Original Message-----
From: Harris, Margo
To: Discussion on providing Health Information =
Sent: 4/28/03 9:05 AM
Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek out = info?

I think that is an important point or two = points! It's true that people
may
not ask, and there is a need to provide = "information finding resources"
in a
number of different formats. What we're = learning in our key informant
interviews for our new project is that some parents = don't ask for the
information that they need and want because they are = unsure of how
sensitive
a response they will get. To the parents, it's = a risk to state the
health
issue out loud to a third party and wait to hear the = librarian's
response.
Margo

Margo Harris, Health Educator
Center for Children with Special Needs
Children's Hospital & Regional Medical = Center
P.O. Box 50020, Seattle, WA 98145-5020 MS: = S-219
margo.harris@seattlechildrens.org
<mailto:margo.harris@se= attlechildrens.org>

new voice phone - 206/987-5259
fax: 206/987-5705
http://www.cshcn.org <http://www.cshcn.org>

-----Original Message-----
From: Louise Sullivan [mailto:lsullivan@spokanelib= rary.org]
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2003 8:45 AM
To: Discussion on providing Health Information =
Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek out = info?

I agree that traditionally librarians have waited for = people to ask for
information. However, people are not always = aware that a library has
certain information or certain resources to find = that information.
People
are motivated to seek out information that is = relevant for their
specific
needs but they may not know how to find that = information. That's where
I
think that libraries can be proactive. Not = necessarily on the specific
kinds of information but to assist people in finding = reliable
information.
That's where classes and outreach to groups and = organizations outside of
the library are useful. As a public librarian, = we see many people who
need
information about health issues. However, many = of these people will not
necessarily ask for assistance. Having finding = tools both in paper and
computer formats offer assistance to people who may = not ask for
assistance.

Louise Sullivan
Reference Librarian
Spokane Public Library

At 07:23 PM 4/24/03 -0800, you wrote:
>I guess in the case of very important public = health information
librarians
>should be proactive and target information to = the people who need it
and
can
>integrate it into their messages designed for = specific high risk
>populations. I'm sure people who craft = messages about high risk sexual
>behaviors to prevent STD/AIDS would be glad to = add a caveat in their
written
>materials, posters, etc. that they create if = they had good sources of
>information. But I think traditionally = librarians have waited for
people
to
>ask for information as opposed to getting the = info out to people. So
part
>of the role of the librarian is to screen info = and anticipate who needs
it
>and will use it. Anyhow, I'm going to try = to not do anymore pc work
>tonight. Judith
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: McIntyre, Susan
>To: 'Bendersky, Judith '; 'Discussion on = providing Health Information '
>Sent: 4/24/2003 6:56 PM
>Subject: RE: what motivates consumers to seek = out info?
>
>I think that most of the time, people seek out = health information for a
>specific purpose, but what is the role of the = librarian when we have
>important information that people don't seek = out.
>
>For example, in the past few years research has = made it clear that
>Nonoxynol-9 (a common spermicide found in sexual = lubricants) can
>actually increase the risk of HIV infection (and = possibly other STDs.)
>This is extraordinarily important information = for consumers (especially
>consumers at risk of HIV infection) to have, but = very few people are
>going to search out information about the safety = of their lubricant
>especially since health officials have = previously recommended
>Nonoxynol-9.
>
>Obviously, it is the job of health educators, = journalists and health
>care providers to disseminate this information = to persons who need it,
>but (back to my original question) what is the = role of the librarian?
>We know that how we display things impact what = things are accessed.
How
>things are arranged on our websites, catalogs = and shelves impact what
>information the public "finds." = How should we as ibrarians work with
>consumers to encourage/promote such new = information that may be
>important for our clients, but they may not be = looking for themselves?
>Or is that beyond our role? Should we = refrain from all promotional
>activities? (Not that I think that is = possible.)
>
>Just wondering about others' perspectives. =
>
>Susie McIntyre
>Health Educator/Resource Librarian
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bendersky, Judith
>To: Discussion on providing Health Information =
>Sent: 4/24/03 4:50 PM
>Subject: what motivates consumers to seek out = info?
>
>Dear all on the resurrected consumer heatlh = advisor committee,
>
>I'm partly writing to get some correspondence = going, and partly to pose

>a
>question. Yesterday one of my own kiddos = looked awful. It turns out
>she
>had gotten some garlic in her eyes on Tue while = I was away in Juneau.
>It
>was already Wed. and I found out what had = happened. With shelves of
>book in
>the house and a pc on cable modem, I thought the = most efficient way to
>find
>out what to do would be do go to the web, and = perhaps it is. I
searched
>
>high and low, google and specific clinic sites, = etc. and couldn't find
>out
>how to handle the first aid for the eyes = question I had (to irrigate,
to
>
>rush to E.R, etc). I struggled with terms = such as first aid,
emergency,
>
>ophthalmic, chemical burn, you name it. I = didn't find what I was
>looking
>for.
>
>My ophthalmic tech friend wasn't home, and I = couldn't reach the eye doc

>in
>town that I know. In the end I called the = E.R. and got advice.
>Regarding
>the question of what motivates people to seek = out information, I'd have

>to
>say in this case it's for specifically = applicable help. Do others seek

>out
>information just for the heck of it?
>
>Judith Bendersky, M.S., MPH Project Coordinator =
>Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special = Education
>PO Box 240249
>Anchorage, AK 99524-0249
>tel. 907-269-8994 toll free 800-709-8990 FAX = 907-269-8995
>
>judith_bendersky@health.state.ak.us
>http://www.hss.state.ak.us/gcdse <http://www.hss.state.ak.us/gcdse> =
>
>"To not transmit an experience is to betray = it." --Elie Wiesel
>
>
Louise Sullivan
Reference Librarian
Spokane Public Library
Ph: 509-444-5336
Fax: 509-444-5364
lsullivan@spokanelibrary.org

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