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Press Releases

What's New: October 2006

To top of page MLA Has Answers for Health Info Seekers Overwhelmed by Online Searches: Pew Survey Results Reveal Internet Users Don't Often Check the Source

Internet users do not know the best ways to find quality information on the Web, according to a survey of nearly 3,000 American adults conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The just-released findings show that two-thirds of adults begin their Internet search for health information by accessing a search engine. And, in a downward trend from survey results conducted in 2001, three-quarters of Internet users do not check the source or the date of the information. Visit the Pew Website for a full report of the new survey "Online Health Search 2006."

According to professional health information specialists at the Medical Library Association (MLA), this is a serious concern because people cannot properly evaluate whether a site is biased or has outdated information without knowing the source and posting date of the information.

"The World Wide Web just keeps growing and, based on the way people are conducting their searches, it is no wonder they feel overwhelmed with the health information they find online," said Jean Shipman, president of the Medical Library Association.

Shipman recommends that people visit the Medical Library Association's Website for links to the Top Ten Most Useful Websites and advice on finding up-to-date, credible health information. In addition, MLA offers "Deciphering Medspeak," a brochure to help people understand the specialized language of health care professionals. The brochure is available in Spanish and there are specific MLA Medspeak brochures for breast cancer (PDF, 156KB), diabetes (PDF, 182KB) and heart disease (PDF, 140KB).

The new survey was a follow-up from Pew's 2001 national survey, "Vital Decisions: How Internet Users Decide What Information to Trust When They or Their Loved Ones Are Sick," which found that more than half of Internet users, or approximately 73 million Americans, use the Internet when seeking health information. An MLA task force worked with Pew to design, review, and analyze the survey results.

The Pew Internet Project produces reports that explore the social impact of the Internet. Support for the non-profit Pew Internet Project is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center. The Project's Website: http://www.pewinternet.org/.

The Medical Library Association is an educational organization of professionals, providing quality information for improved health. Founded in 1898, MLA represents 1,100 institutions and 3,600 individual members in the health sciences information field. For more than a century, the Medical Library Association has served society through its members and programs, by providing quality information for better health care, the education of health professionals, the conduct of research and the public's understanding of health care issues.

For more information, please contact Evelyn Shaevel, mlaedo1@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x15.

To top of page MLA Receives NLM Contract to Conduct Health Information Literacy Research

A study by the National Academy on an Aging Society reports that nearly half of all Americans adults (or over 90 million people) with low health literacy skills have limited ability to read and understand instructions on prescription containers, informed consent documents, insurance forms, and other health-impacting materials. To help combat the problem of low health literacy among patients, the Medical Library Association (MLA), with funding of $250,000 from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), will conduct a two-year research study into hospital health care provider and administrator awareness and understanding of health information literacy. The goal of the research study is to increase awareness of how medical librarians contribute to improving health information literacy among patients.

During the study, a needs assessment will be conducted, in partnership with the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy (SCHA), to measure how health care administrators and providers perceive consumer health and the role of hospital libraries.

A multiformat health information literacy curriculum will be developed and tested to be used by hospital librarians with their local health care providers. In addition, the curriculum will be distributed via the MLANET Website for global application. The research study will also assess the use of the developed curriculum and NLM consumer health resources, such as MedlinePlus and information prescriptions.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,500 health sciences information professional members worldwide. Founded in 1898, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Evelyn Shaevel, mlaedo1@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x15.

To top of page MLA Chapter Meeting Season to Begin

October signals the beginning of the Medical Library Association (MLA) chapter meeting season. Health information sciences professionals in regions across the country will gather throughout the month to network, view exhibits, attend continuing education courses, participate in forums, and hear guest speakers at their annual chapter meetings. Each meeting also holds various social events.

MLA's fourteen affiliated regional chapters include: Hawaii-Pacific Chapter (HPC), Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona (MLGSCA), Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC), Midcontinental Chapter (MCMLA), Midwest Chapter, New York-New Jersey Chapter (NY-NJ), North Atlantic Health Sciences Libraries (NAHSL), Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group (NCNMLG), Pacific Northwest Chapter (PNC), Philadelphia Regional Chapter, Pittsburgh Regional Chapter, South Central Chapter (SCC), Southern Chapter (SC), and Upstate New York and Ontario Chapter (UNYOC).

Many chapters will join forces this year to hold joint meetings including the MAC/SC meeting "Together: New Horizons, New Opportunities," in Atlanta, GA; the NAHSL/NY-NJ joint meeting, "The Evidence Is In…" in Hartford, CT; and a western region quad-chapter meeting in Seattle, WA, for the HPC/MLGSCA/NCNMLG/PNC chapters, with the theme, "Missions and Mountains: Believe and Achieve."

For the complete chapter meeting schedule, a map of the chapters, and links to MLA chapter meeting Websites, visit the MLANET chapter page.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,500 health sciences information professional members worldwide. Founded in 1898, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Tomi Gunn, mlams@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x11.

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