Piloting a Course to Heighten Awareness of Consumer Health Resources to Nurses and Patient Educators

Abstract

Through the library, patients and health professionals can interact with librarians to receive aid in searching and accessing consumer health literature on the internet. Patients are now seeking out consumer health resources and questioning health care providers. Academic health sciences librarians already play an important role in consumer health. They can also help health professionals with patient education by using a train the trainer model to teach nurses and patient educators about reliable and authoritative online resources. Two librarians at an academic health center created a course and online guide to walk participants through finding, navigating, and evaluating consumer health resources for their patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Consumer health
• nurses
• outreach
• patient education
• patient educators