THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Access to reliable health information source builds knowledge that individuals need to take informed decisions that will promote their health and well-being. Inadequate/lack of access to reputable information creates a gap in knowledge of health problems, ultimately leading to poor health decisions...

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Main Authors: Olubanke M Bankole, Isaac O Busayo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Federal University Wukari 2023-06-01
Series:International Studies Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/107
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author Olubanke M Bankole
Isaac O Busayo
author_facet Olubanke M Bankole
Isaac O Busayo
author_sort Olubanke M Bankole
collection DOAJ
description Access to reliable health information source builds knowledge that individuals need to take informed decisions that will promote their health and well-being. Inadequate/lack of access to reputable information creates a gap in knowledge of health problems, ultimately leading to poor health decisions and outcomes. In Nigeria, there are several sources such as health workers, mass media, textbooks and internet through which health information are disseminated to the public and patients, but libraries and librarians are often not considered as part of the explicit plan to advance the health of the populace. The paper therefore provides an overview of the role that libraries could play to promote diffusion of information for quality health care in Nigeria drawing from examples of such practices in developed countries. Librarians as repositories of knowledge could be involved in helping the public to get high quality consumer health information, in providing patients’ education and in imparting information literacy skills which avails individuals the understanding of their health status, and take appropriate actions to prevent and control diseases. Information prescription entails the librarians providing personalized or customized information to patients on the request of the consulting physicians thereby improving patients’ ability to manage and control his/her medical condition. The library could further engage in outreach to take health information to grassroots and are also relevant in emergency response and preparedness.
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spelling doaj-art-b91af51c39a343cc93c6713910ad4b962025-02-10T10:01:19ZengFederal University WukariInternational Studies Journal2756-46492023-06-0171THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGEOlubanke M Bankole0Isaac O Busayo1Federal University Oye EkitiFederal University Oye Ekiti Access to reliable health information source builds knowledge that individuals need to take informed decisions that will promote their health and well-being. Inadequate/lack of access to reputable information creates a gap in knowledge of health problems, ultimately leading to poor health decisions and outcomes. In Nigeria, there are several sources such as health workers, mass media, textbooks and internet through which health information are disseminated to the public and patients, but libraries and librarians are often not considered as part of the explicit plan to advance the health of the populace. The paper therefore provides an overview of the role that libraries could play to promote diffusion of information for quality health care in Nigeria drawing from examples of such practices in developed countries. Librarians as repositories of knowledge could be involved in helping the public to get high quality consumer health information, in providing patients’ education and in imparting information literacy skills which avails individuals the understanding of their health status, and take appropriate actions to prevent and control diseases. Information prescription entails the librarians providing personalized or customized information to patients on the request of the consulting physicians thereby improving patients’ ability to manage and control his/her medical condition. The library could further engage in outreach to take health information to grassroots and are also relevant in emergency response and preparedness. https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/107Librarieshealthinformationconsumerrecords
spellingShingle Olubanke M Bankole
Isaac O Busayo
THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
International Studies Journal
Libraries
health
information
consumer
records
title THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
title_full THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
title_fullStr THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
title_full_unstemmed THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
title_short THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN HEALTH INFORMATION DIFFUSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
title_sort role of librarians in health information diffusion in the digital age
topic Libraries
health
information
consumer
records
url https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/107
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