Browsing by Subject "online health information"

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    Information Literacy of Online Health Consumers in Minnesota
    (2018-09) Hunt, Shanda; Theis-Mahon, Nicole; Chew, Katherine
    In the United States 72% of Internet users look online to find health information, with some being high quality and other information dangerous. The University of Minnesota is a land grant institution, and the Health Sciences Libraries have a strong outreach role, educating health information consumers across Minnesota about high quality resources. In 2016, we conducted a study at the Minnesota State Fair to identify where Minnesotans find online health information, how they use it, their confidence in assessing it, and what they think is missing. Convenience sampling yielded a total of 255 participants who valued the ability to access OHI and used it for a variety of purposes. A high percentage of participants thought they had the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate OHI, yet were uncertain about indicators of quality. They felt that current resources lacked personalization and evidence-based information. Our study recommendations on further educational outreach around online health information include promotion of interactive educational websites, partnerships with public libraries to host large-scale education sessions on the topic, and skill building around assessment of health websites.
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    My Doctor Said What?!: Identifying and Assessing Online Health Information Resources
    (2017-05) Theis-Mahon, Nicole; Hunt, Shanda
    The University of Minnesota (UMN) Libraries conducted a study on Minnesotans' use of online health information, surveying them about sources, purpose of use, confidence around navigational and quality assessment skills, and gaps in current online health information. Participants were surveyed at the UMN Driven2Discover research building at the Minnesota State Fair. Analyses revealed Minnesotans placed a high value on the ability to access health information online and used it for a variety of purposes. They perceived that they had the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate online health information, yet a high percentage were also unsure about proven quality indicators. The sample was skewed by a high number of respondents who were healthcare professionals.