The role of local libraries in improving access to health-related information in rural settings

1. The role of local libraries in improving access to health-related information in rural settings Evidence from Cluj-Napoca, Romania Emanuela Marton-Vasarhelyi, MA Center for Health Policy and Public Health, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania

2. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 Presentation overview 1. Background 2. The Initiative for Health Informational Resources in Rural Areas (IRIS) 3. Study methodology 4. Results 5. Conclusions 6. Acknowledgements 7. Selected references

3. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 1. Background (1) • The role of local libraries in enhancing access to health information in rural areas • Health information seeking behavior (HISB), self-efficacy, and health literacy as key concepts in the development of interventions aiming to improve access to health information in rural and remote settings

4. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 1. Background (2) • Recent findings suggest that libraries, through the help of trained librarians, can meet the health information needs of people living in rural and remote settings

5. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 1. Background (3) • Health information seeking behavior • Self-efficacy • Health literacy

6. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 2. The Initiative for Health Informational Resources in Rural Areas (1) • Participatory-based intervention • Objectives: 1) to offer an institutional framework to facilitate access and 2) to increase community awareness, knowledge and skills to increase accessing of health information.

7. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 2. The Initiative for Health Informational Resources in Rural Areas (2) Local libraries Institutional intervention Health workshops Family physicians Population level intervention Local authorities

8. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 3. Methodology (1) • Study settings • Study population • Data collection • Data analysis

9. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 3. Methodology (2) • Study settings and population Settings: 4 communes in Cluj county: Sînpaul, Cătina, Tureni, Petreștii de Jos Sample:conveniencesample Population: adult inhabitants ofcommunes included in the study (n=858)

10. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 3. Methodology (3) • Study design 2011 Evaluative research 2010 Formative research Quantitative methods (n=209) Quantative methods (n=212) Intervention communes Qualitative methods 5 interviews Qualitative methods 10 interviews 6 focus groups Control comune Quantitative methods (n=197) Quantitative methods (n=204)

11. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 3. Methodology (4) • Data collection and analysis • Pre- and post- intervention data was collected in all four communities, by trained operators, in 2010 and 2011. • The main constructs measured were attitudes towards the community library, HISB, self-efficacy, and health literacy.

12. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 4. Results (1)

13. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 4. Results (2)

14. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 5. Conclusions • The proposed pilot study has been proven effective in enhancing access to health information in rural areas by ensuring the availability of health information and increasing health information seeking behavior of rural residents. • In terms of the pursued strategies, the framework proposed and implemented at the institutional level was successful in supporting the intervention at the population level.

15. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 6. Acknowledgements This research project was financed through the “Access to Health Information in Rural Areas” Grant, funded by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, through the PNII-Idei Program, financing contract 2450/2009.

16. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 7. Selected references • 1. Rural Healthy People 2010: Identifying Rural Health Priorities and Models for Practice. Larry Gamn, Linnae Hutchison, Gail Bellamy, Betty Dabney. 1, 2002, The Journal of Rural Health, Vol. 18, pp. 9-14. 2. Library outreach: overcoming health literacy challenges. R. Parker, L. Gary Kreps. 4, 2005, J Med Libr Assoc, Vol. 93, pp. S81-S85. 3. Clarann Weinert, Mary Burman. Rural health and health-seekind behaviors. Annual Review of Nursing Research. New York : Springer Publishing Company, 1994, p. 76. 4. Self-efficacy and health. O'Leary, A. 5, 1985, Behav Res Ther, Vol. 23, pp. 437-451. 5. Health lietarcy: a challenge for American patients and their health care providers. Parker, R. 4, 2000, Health Promot Int, Vol. 15, pp. 277-83.

17. Public Health and Social Services: Education and Practice conference Tbilisi, Georgia, June 27th, 2012 Thank you for your attention! Emanuela Marton-Vasarhelyi, MA ema_sirlincan@healthpolicy.ro www.healthpolicy.ro