Genomic Health Literacy
Part 2 of our Health Literacy Month series-
Genetics has become more prominent in the news in recent years. Sometimes it looks like great scientific advancement and other times it can look a little unsettling and seem like something out of science fiction. Genomic health literacy is becoming increasingly important as precision medicine, pharmacogenomics, and direct-to-consumer genetic testing and other genetic associated topics are emerging at the intersection between health and genetics, and consumers need access to information about these and other related topics in a manner that is understandable.
It has been noted that...
Source: Dragonfly - October 9, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Health Literacy/Consumer Health genetics genomics Source Type: news
“So, what is it you do again?”
To celebrate Medical Librarian’s Month we have invited medical librarians in our region to submit some information about who they are and the work that they do as medical librarians.
Today we hear from a hospital librarian in Alaska!
Who am I? Leslie Meyer, Knowledge Navigator
Where do I work? Central Peninsula Hospital’s Health Resource Center in Soldotna, AK
With the official title of Knowledge Navigator, I hear this question at least once a day from patients, friends, and confused members of the general public. While many of them are satisfied with a simple, “I’m a medical librarian,” that answer doe...
Source: Dragonfly - October 5, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: News from Network Members Medical Librarians Month Source Type: news
Making Sense of the Numbers —Health Numeracy and You (and Me)
This post is the first in our “Health Literacy Month” series happening this month, October 2017
As health care becomes more sophisticated and complex, it’s more and more likely that we will face situations where we have to use numerical skills to figure out our own treatment choices. Our capacity to deal with the numerical component of health information is called “health numeracy” and it’s akin to health literacy, but is not the same thing (people can have high literacy and low numeracy, and you can’t tell by looking what a person’s numeracy level is!). The challenges relating to numeracy are many, a...
Source: Dragonfly - October 2, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Ann Glusker Tags: Blog health literacy health numeracy iconarray Source Type: news
Urban Indian Health Institute: Decolonizing Data
The Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI), a Division of the Seattle Indian Health Board located in Seattle, WA is one of 12 tribal epidemiology centers (TECs) funded by the Indian Health Service (IHS). TECs serve as a crucial component of the health care resources for all American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) by:
Managing public health information systems
Investigating diseases of concern
Managing disease prevention and control programs
Communicating vital health information and resources
Responding to public health emergencies
Coordinating these activities with other public health authorities
Although eleven of the...
Source: Dragonfly - September 28, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Ann Madhavan Tags: Data Science AI/AN Source Type: news
Data Literacy: “What It Is and Why You Should Care”
Open data… big data… data management… These terms swirl around us, and often we just let them flow past. But, to understand and navigate the rapidly changing landscape that is data, we need certain skills, and these are characterized as “data literacy”. One definition of data literacy, from DataPopAlliance.org, is “the desire and ability to constructively engage in society through and about data” (click here if you want to know the thinking behind this and here if you want to see a quick video). But I like this one, from the wonderful Data Journalism Handbook, better:
“Just as literacy refers to “the abil...
Source: Dragonfly - September 26, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Ann Glusker Tags: Blog Source Type: news
#OpioidAwareChat
In 2015 there were 33,091 opioid-related deaths in the US.
Every day, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids.
ER visits and opioid overdose-related deaths have more than quadrupled in the last 15 years.
September is National Recovery Month.
Join us this Friday for a Twitter chat hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to discuss opioid use disorder and ways to prevent and treat it.
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow, NINDS Director Dr. Walter J. Koroshetz, special guest American Society of Addiction Medicine, and several other NIH and HHS components will be respondin...
Source: Dragonfly - September 25, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: News from NLM Public Libraries Source Type: news
“Words Have Power. Read a Banned Book.”
What does the banning or challenging of books tell us about our society?
Banned or challenged books are often books that reflect the diversity of our world. In 2015, of the 10 most challenged books, 9 of them “…contained diverse content.” Many of these books are authored by and/or contain people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA, people of a different religion, or people with a disability. In other words, people who are minorities or not part of the dominant culture. Readers may become uncomfortable reading about unfamiliar experiences or perspectives. For many, diversity implies negative connota...
Source: Dragonfly - September 20, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: K-12 Public Libraries Source Type: news
Libraries Transform: Health Literacy Toolkit
Many Americans remain unable to understand how to take their medication, use a web browser rather than a trusted website for finding health information, or do not believe the importance of disease prevention efforts due to misinformation they’ve heard or seen. Poor health and poor health outcomes have often been linked to low rates of health literacy. Libraries have been instrumental in supporting health literacy efforts such as providing health related programs, recommending trusted health information resources, and providing information in other languages. We here, at the National Network of Libraries of Medicine P...
Source: Dragonfly - September 18, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Health Literacy/Consumer Health News from NNLM Public Libraries Source Type: news
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
It’s a fact, many Americans are overweight, including our children. Childhood obesity continues to be spotlighted in the news whether as a statistic, a campaign to reduce the rates, or recent research. Many factors contribute to childhood obesity such as increased screen time, family lifestyle, and certain economic or social issues. It’s a constant struggle for everyone and it’s difficult to take the steps to reduce our body weight. Healthfinder provides a toolkit for National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month for libraries and organizations to use with helpful ideas to bring awareness and to tips to in...
Source: Dragonfly - September 14, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Health Literacy/Consumer Health Health Observances Source Type: news
Join us for the next PNR Rendezvous webinar
Answering health and medical reference questions can be challenging, as the questions are often sensitive in nature, are asked at what may be a crisis point in a patron’s life, and can involve technical material. Luckily, the RUSA Health and Medical Reference Guidelines were revised in 2015, and provide a basis for discussing best practices and strategies for helping patrons in this area. This webinar will present the guidelines, highlight some of these practices, and introduce a new “Quick Start” guide connecting the guidelines to suggested reference behaviors. These will help you improve the quality of your health ...
Source: Dragonfly - September 12, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Health Literacy/Consumer Health Public Libraries Training & Education Source Type: news
Suicide Prevention Week
National Suicide Prevention Week is September 10-16. Suicide is a tragedy that touches the lives of many families. Each year 44,193 Americans die by suicide. See the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention‘s website for ideas on what you can do: Find a walk near you, advocate for suicide prevention, share on social media, take care of yourself and your community, have a conversation with your children.
Join a Twitter chat on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 10:00 to 11:00 Pacific Time, using the hashtag #stopsuicide.
The American Foundation for Suicide also has local chapters, information on how to have a conversa...
Source: Dragonfly - September 11, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Patricia Devine Tags: Health Literacy/Consumer Health Health Observances Source Type: news
Disasters Don ’t Plan Ahead. You Can
NLM’s Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) has provided the following information as a way for all of us to be better prepared when disasters strike.
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have us asking ourselves—are we ready to respond to a disaster in our community? You are probably asking yourself the same question. To prepare, you must have your own plan in place first. Then you can help members of your community find resources to make their preparedness plans.
This September, National Preparedness Month focuses on planning, with the theme “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”
To plan ahead for H...
Source: Dragonfly - September 8, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Emergency Preparedness News from NLM Source Type: news
Tweet and Learn: Twitter as an Educational Tool
Twitter has been growing in popularity (although not as a money-making venture), and is one of the most used social media tools. While many still use it to connect with friends, follow the antics of celebrities, and keep up with family members, the use of Twitter as an educational tool has also been emerging for several years, especially in the health sciences. Teaching about the tools and skills to use social media to its full advantage is a perfect role for librarians. We can advocate for the inclusion of these skills in the curriculum, teaching students to use social media professionally and also how to avoid pitfalls a...
Source: Dragonfly - September 7, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Patricia Devine Tags: Training & Education Source Type: news
Will You be the Next Rockstar Medical Librarian?
The National Library of Medicine is currently accepting submissions for rockstar medical librarians. This is your opportunity to be featured by NLM during National Medical Librarians month in October. Deadline to submit your application is September 15.
Here’s the announcement from the NLM In Focus blog:
Ready to take the stage? NLM will be featuring more rock star medical librarians during National Medical Librarians Month in October.
We’re giving top billing to medical librarians at hospitals, universities, and other organizations.
You can be a solo act or, if you’d prefer to profile your team, you can be ...
Source: Dragonfly - September 7, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: News from NLM Source Type: news
Solar Eclipse Safety
Everyone is gearing up for the big solar eclipse happening August 21. Many libraries have been gathering information as well as planning activities and programs for their communities. Why the hoopla?! Well, last time the United States experienced a total solar eclipse was in 1991 in Hawaii. And it was in 1979 that the contiguous United States saw a total solar eclipse. Then it went through the Pacific Northwest, including Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington state. The next total solar eclipse will be by-passing this region and instead be going from Texas through the Midwest to Maine in 2024.
A total solar eclipse is...
Source: Dragonfly - August 14, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Carolyn Martin Tags: Blog Source Type: news
