**Beyond an Apple a Day:**

**Providing Consumer Health Information in a Public Library**

####### Selected Resources for a Consumer Health Collection

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

####### Suggested Consumer Health Journals

**Arthritis Today**

ISSN: 0890-1120

\$20/yr

**Child Health Alert**

ISSN: 1064-4849

\$29/yr

**Consumer Reports on Health**

ISSN: 1058-0832

\$24/yr

**Coping with Cancer**

ISSN: 1043-8637

\$18/yr

**Diabetes Self-Management**

ISSN: 0741-6253

\$18

**FDA Consumer**

ISSN: 0362-1332

\$14.00/yr

**Harvard Health Letter**

ISSN: 1052-1577

\$28

**Harvard Heart Letter**

ISSN: 1051-5313

\$28/yr

**Harvard Men\'s Health Watch**

ISSN: 10891102

\$32/yr

**Harvard Mental Health Letter**

ISSN: 0884-3783

\$59

**Harvard Women\'s Health Watch**

ISSN: 1070-910X

\$32/yr

**Health**

ISSN: 1059-938X

\$19.97

**Health News**

ISSN: 1081-5880

\$39/yr

**Heart Advisor**

ISSN: 1523-9004

\$39/yr

**In Touch**

ISSN: 1522-7510

\$19.50

**JAMA**

ISSN: 0098-7484

\$245 (institutions)

**Johns Hopkins Medical Letter Health After 50**

ISSN: 1042-1882

\$24

**Let\'s Live**

ISBN: 0024-1288

\$15.95

**Mayo Clinic Health Letter**

ISSN: 0741-6245

\$24/yr

**Natural Health**

ISSN: 1067-9588

\$23.90

***\
*New England Journal of Medicine**

ISSN: 0028-4793\
\$349 (institutions)

**Nutrition Action Health Letter**

ISSN: 0885-7792

\$24/yr

**Prevention**

ISBN: 0032-8006

\$21.97***\
***

**Stroke Connection Magazine**

ISBN: 1047-014X

\$12/yr

**Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter**

\$28/yr

**University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter**

ISSN: 0748-9234

\$28/yr

**Women\'s Health Advisor**

ISSN: 1524-881X

\$32

**YOGA Journal**

ISSN: 0191-0965

\$20

Total without *JAMA & NEJM*: \$673.29

Total with *JAMA & NEJM*: \$1267.29

**Health-Related Video Vendors**

**Aquarius Video**

<http://www.aquariusproductions.com/>

888-440-2963

**Channing-Bete Company**

<http://www.channing-bete.com/>

800-477-4776

**Films for the Humanities and Sciences**

<http://www.films.com/>

800-257-5126

**Milner-Fenwick**

<http://www.milner-fenwick.com/>

800-432-8433

**Wired.md**

[http://wired.md](http://wired.md/)

800-wired-md

A list of additional video vendors is available from the South Central
Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine at:
<http://nnlm.gov/scr/conhlth/chvideos.htm>

Also check out various medical associations!

**Consumer Health Databases**

**AltHealthWatch^®^\
**[www.epnet.com](http://www.epnet.com/) (Ebsco)

> *This database focuses on the many perspectives of complementary,
> holistic and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. It
> offers libraries an immediate resource of full text articles, from 140
> international, and often peer-reviewed, reports, proceedings and
> association & consumer newsletters. In addition, there are hundreds of
> pamphlets, booklets, special reports, original research and book
> excerpts. Some full-text.*

**Health Source^®^: Consumer Edition\
**[www.epnet.com](http://www.epnet.com/) (Ebsco)

> *This resource provides access to nearly 300 full text, consumer
> health periodicals. This database also includes searchable full text
> for more than 1,000 health-related pamphlets and more than 140 health
> reference books, including books published by the People's Medical
> Society. Additionally, Health Source: Consumer Edition contains 7,000
> Clinical Reference Systems reports (in English and Spanish); Clinical
> Pharmacology, which provides access to 1,100 drug monograph entries
> and 2,700 patient education fact sheets; and Stedman's Medical
> Dictionary. This full text database covers topics such as AIDS,
> cancer, diabetes, drugs & alcohol, aging, fitness, nutrition &
> dietetics, children's health, women's health, etc.*

**Health & Wellness Resource Center\
**[www.gale.com](http://www.gale.com/) (Gale)

> *This resource answers the need for a fully integrated, ever-growing
> electronic resource center for all levels of health research. Rely on
> the Health & Wellness Resource Center for instant access to carefully
> compiled medical reference and periodical materials that your users
> can trust.*

**Health & Wellness Resource Center - Alternative Health Module\
**[www.gale.com](http://www.gale.com/) (Gale)

> *Available 24 hours a day via the Internet, Health & Wellness Resource
> Center\'s Alternate Health Module provides a one stop, full-service
> resource for alternative and complimentary therapies. It provides a
> rich collection of books, journals, magazines and pamphlets for
> consumers and health care professionals.*

**Health Reference Center -- Academic\
**[www.gale.com](http://www.gale.com/) (Gale)

> *How can you easily provide current, reliable health information for
> your patrons \-- including your nursing and allied health students?
> Give them access to Health Reference Center \-- Academic on InfoTrac®
> Web. This multi-source database provides access to the full text of
> nursing and allied health journals, plus the wide variety of personal
> health information sources in InfoTrac\'s award-winning Health
> Reference Center™ plus 40 full-text nursing and allied health
> journals.*

**Well-Connected\
**[www.well-connected.com](http://www.well-connected.com/) (A.D.A.M,
Inc)

> *WELL-CONNECTED is a library of about 100 reports on common diseases
> and wellness issues. Each report is an in-depth discussion of the
> latest information on treatments, risk factors, causes, diagnostic
> tests, and preventative measures.\
> \
> All reports are written by experienced medical writers and reviewed
> for accuracy and relevancy by a board of physicians at Harvard Medical
> School and Massachusetts General Hospital.*

**Yoursurgery.com\
**[www.yoursurgery.com](http://www.yoursurgery.com/)

> *YourSurgery.Com® provides easy to understand information for common
> and specific surgical procedures. YourSurgery.Com® organizes the
> information so that you and your family can understand each procedure
> and help you ask your physician questions. Below is a list of the
> topics that will be explained for each procedure:*

-   *Anatomy of the operative site*

-   *Alternative surgical solutions*

-   *Pathology of the Illness*

-   *Possible complications of surgery*

-   *Symptoms associated with the condition*

-   *Post Operative Care*

-   *Methods of diagnosis*

-   *Innovations in surgical technique*

-   *Concise description of each surgery*

**Rare Disease Database**\
[www.rarediseases.org](http://www.rarediseases.org/) (National
Organization for Rare Disorders)

A rare or \"orphan\" disease affects fewer than 200,000 people in the
United States. There are more than 6,000 rare disorders that, taken
together, affect approximately 25 million Americans. One in every 10
individuals in this country has received a diagnosis of a rare disease.
Some have familiar names (Lou Gehrig's Disease or ALS) and some have
unusual names (Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis). This database
contains reports for thousands of rare diseases and includes a general
discussion of each disease as well as symptoms, affected populations,
standard and investigational therapies and associations or organizations
to contact for additional information.

**Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database**\
[www.naturaldatabase.com](http://www.naturaldatabase.com/) (Therapeutic
Research Faculty)

> *This database provides access to evidence-based information about
> herbals and other natural medicines. This is the most comprehensive,
> scientifically-based, and practical database on natural medicines
> available anywhere. Patient Ed version available.*

**Stat!Ref**\
[www.statref.com](http://www.statref.com/) (Teton Data Systems)

> *Stat!Ref facilitates access to the full-text of nearly 60 medical
> books! Subscribe to just the books you want, and have either
> web-based, Internet or Intranet access.*

Top 5 Websites

MedlinePlus\
[**www.medlineplus.gov**](http://www.medlineplus.gov/)

> *Created by the National Library of Medicine, this is the first place
> to go with ANY consumer health related question. Sites are current,
> reviewed, reliable, and accurate. Includes an encyclopedia,
> dictionary, drug database, several directories, and current news
> items.*

**NIHSeniorHealth\
**[nihseniorhealth.gov](../nihseniorhealth.gov)

> *National Institutes of Health site for health information for senior
> citizens. The site includes special capabilities such as changing the
> text size, the contrast and turning on speech. The site also includes
> a comprehensive list of videos in the site index.*

**ClinicalTrials.gov\
**[clinicaltrials.gov](../clinicaltrials.gov)

> *ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about
> federally and privately supported clinical research in human
> volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's
> purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more
> details.*

**NCCAM: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine\
**[nccam.nih.gov](../nccam.nih.gov)

> *The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
> (NCCAM) is 1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the
> National Institutes of Health (NIH). This site includes information
> about treatments and therapies for Complementary and Alternative
> Medicine. Learn about how to be an informed consumer of CAM and stay
> informed on the latest new alerts.*

**National Library of Medicine\
**[nlm.nih.gov](../nlm.nih.gov)

> *Find a complete list of National Library of Medicine databases and
> web resources on this site.*

# Additional Quality Websites

> **American Heart Association\
> **[www.americanheart.org](http://www.americanheart.org/)
>
> *Many advocacy organizations have excellent websites, but one of the
> best is from the American Heart Association. Covers all aspects of
> heart disease and stroke.*

## Cancer.gov

> [cancer.gov](http://www.cancer.gov/)

The National Cancer Institute is the Federal Government's principal
agency for cancer research and training and is a component of the
National Institutes of Health. The site provides quality cancer
information on cancer topics including news, clinical trials,
statistics, and research and funding.

**Dirline**

[*dirline.nlm.nih.gov*](../dirline.nlm.nih.gov)

> *Looking for a support groups or research organization? DIRLINE
> (Directory of Information Resources Online) is an online directory of
> over 8,400 health-related organizations and other resources that
> covers it all: educational institutions, government agencies, and
> advocacy groups. Search by keyword or MESH heading.*

**DrugDigest.org**

> [www.drugdigest.org](http://www.drugdigest.org/)
>
> *One of the best Internet sites for information on pharmaceuticals,
> interactions and herbals. Includes photographs of drugs and
> information for the physician and patient.*

## Familydoctor.org

> [familydoctor.org](http://www.familydoctor.org/)
>
> *From the American Academy of Family Physicians, a national medical
> organization representing more than 93,000 physicians, family practice
> residents and medical students, this site provides information written
> and reviewed by physicians and patient education professionals.*

## 

## Patientinform.org

> [www.patientinform.org/](http://www.patientinform.org/)

This site offers Up-to-date research about the diagnosis and treatment
of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, which is provided by the American
Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart
Association. The site also offers free access to selected medical
journal articles and provides plain-language explanations of what the
studies mean, how they compare with what's already known, and how
patients should weigh them in making treatment decisions. These
conditions account for nearly two out of every three deaths in the
United States. More disease groups may join in the future.

# 

# 

# Additional Sources of Information

**[Video:]{.underline}**

**HealthHQ Video: The Librarian Is In: Facing Modern Consumer Health
Issues in the Public Library:
<http://www.iconlibrary.org/hhqvideo.html>**

**(Requires Real Player and Java)**

**In Plain Language (Health Literacy):
<http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/video.html>**

**(Requires Real Player)**

**[Reports:]{.underline}**

**Rand Report Summary: Consumer Use of Information When Making Treatment
Decisions:**

[**http://www.bcbs.com/coststudies/reports/Rand_Report_Summary.pdf**](http://www.bcbs.com/coststudies/reports/Rand_Report_Summary.pdf)

**Healthy People Library Project:**

[**http://healthlit.org**](http://healthlit.org/)

**The Challenge of Providing Consumer Health Information Services in
Public Libraries:**

[**http://healthlit.org/pdfs/AAASFINAL.pdf**](http://healthlit.org/pdfs/AAASFINAL.pdf)

**[Article:]{.underline}**

**Fuller, H. (2005). Consumer Health Collecting Made Easy: A Librarian
Prescribes a Remedy for Understocked Medical-Advice Shelves. *American
Libraries*, 36(5), 47-48.**

# Easy-to-Read Consumer Health Information

## 

**Federal Resources**

Easy-to-Read English Language Brochures from the FDA:
<http://www.fda.gov/opacom/>

Links to PDF files. Topics: clinical trials, AIDS prevention, poison
prevention, choosing medical treatments, diet and a healthy heart,
arthritis treatment, safe weight loss, treating colds and flu, sun
safety, diet and aging, food safety, medicine safety, and menopause.

National Cancer Institute Easy-to-Read Publications:
<https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/ncipubs/>

This NCI web site is designed to help you view or order free National
Cancer Institute (NCI) publications. A useful "Frequently Asked
Questions" section reviews ordering policies, duplication of NCI
materials policy and other helpful items.

Search MedlinePlus: <http://www.medlineplus.gov/>

In the text box, type in the phrase "easy-to-read". Then run a basic
search to retrieve a list of results linked to topic pages and
easy-to-read consumer health information.

**Regional Resources**

Low-Literacy Pamphlets in Spanish/English:
<http://www.ohsu.edu/library/hoodriver/pamphlets/pamphletindex.shtml>

Produced by Oregon Health Sciences University/Hood River Community
Health Outreach Project. Topics: dental, immunizations, labor and
delivery, and poison control.

**National Organizations**

Low-Literacy Bilingual Patient Education Materials:
<http://www.ncfh.org/pateduc.htm>

From the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc. (older material
dated 1996). Links to PDF files. Topics: adolescent sexuality, family
planning, health eating, high blood pressure, skin injuries, work
injuries, children and alcohol, diabetes, dental care, and stress.