“You Have to be Positive.” Social Support Processes of an Online Support Group for Men Living with HIV

Over the past decade, improved treatments have helped people with AIDS enjoy a state of restored health and greater hope for long-term survival. Because of these changes, social support is an even more important resource for those battling HIV/AIDS. One source for social support is a support group, which offers social and emotional resources to meet the needs of its members. The online support group investigated in this study serves gay men with HIV/AIDS and requires that they talk only about positive aspects of life. To understand the implications this rule has for support processes, a thematic analysis was conducted to determine how this group constructs social support. Rules and resources aimed at the group goal of positivity help develop a unique speech community. Implications for social support, support groups, and the Internet are discussed.     

Perceived Internet health literacy of HIV-positive people through the provision of a computer and Internet health education intervention

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess perceived Internet health literacy of HIV‐positive people before and after an Internet health information educational intervention. Methods: We developed a 50‐min educational intervention on basic computer skills and online health information evaluation. We administered a demographic survey and a validated health literacy survey (eHEALS) at baseline, immediately after, and 3 months the class. Changes in scores between the surveys were analysed. Results: Eighteen HIV‐positive participants were included in the final analysis. Before the intervention, most respondents’ assessment of their ability to access Internet health information was unfavourable. Post‐intervention, the majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were able to access and identify Internet health information resources. The increase in self‐assessed skill level was statistically significant for all eight items eHEALS (P < 0.05). Scores for the 3‐month follow‐up survey remained higher than pre‐intervention scores for most items. Conclusions: Providing an interdisciplinary brief introductory Internet health information educational intervention HIV‐positive people with baseline low perceived Internet health literacy significantly improves confidence in finding and using Internet health information resources. Studies with larger numbers of participants should be undertaken to determine if brief interventions improve self‐care, patient outcomes and use of emergency services.     

整合生物医学信息,构建性病艾滋病综合信息网络数据库

作者拟利用互联网信息整合系统 ( Internet Information Integration System,3 I)从 Internet上遴选、下载、收集各种有价值的性病艾滋病信息 ,经过自动分类、过滤、排重和知识网络构建等智能化的处理整合后 ,建立性病艾滋病综合信息资源网络数据库并为用户提供检索服务 ,也可以个性化的形式提供给用户。     

Information needs and information-seeking behaviors of HIV positive men and women

Although a portion of the HIV/AIDS population has long been active in seeking out information in support of self-care, little work has been done to examine closely the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of this community relative to the provision of medical reference. This exploratory study provides insight into the types of information HIV positive individuals seek and the resources they consult in gathering information to bolster health and well-being. Having a better understanding of the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of individuals with HIV/AIDS will facilitate information intervention for this community.     

HIV/AIDS Outreach: Curriculum Development and Skills Training to Health and Information Professionals

With funding from the National Library of Medicine HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Program (ACIOP), librarians at the University of Florida Health Sciences Libraries partnered with university and community groups to facilitate collaboration, develop new information resources, develop information-seeking skills, and raise general awareness surrounding HIV/AIDS risks, prevention, and treatment. This article describes the skills development elements of the project, including development and implementation of an HIV/AIDS information resource curriculum for health care providers, social services professionals, and public librarians within the project’s partner organizations.     

The information experience and learning needs of couples living with HIV in Malawi

In this feature, guest writer Kondwani Wella presents an overview of his PhD – a study which investigated the information experience of serodiscordant couples with HIV and AIDS in Malawi. In particular, for this article, he considers the information behaviour of people who need HIV‐ and AIDS‐specific information and the role of the librarian in helping to deliver what is needed to support engagement in relevant learning. H.S.     

Evaluating information literacy educators' practices before and after the course facilitating information literacy education: from tutor to learner-centred

Objective: The article gives an account of a study on the impact of facilitating information literacy education (FILE) on its participants, health librarians who have attended this course between 2007 and 2010. Methods: The analysis presented here is based on the first stage of the research, funded by the Higher Education Academy Information and Computer Sciences and consisting of an online survey. This survey was conducted in Autumn 2010 and examined the respondents’ examples of information literacy practice before and after FILE. Results and conclusion: Two main outcomes can be drawn from the data. First, that overall the respondents’ provision of information literacy education has shifted from a tutor‐centred approach (where the trainer decides what the learner needs) to a learner‐centred approach (where the learner decides what he/she needs). And secondly, that the impact of FILE should be seen in terms of a self‐perpetuating professional development, rather than measured in terms of specific changes that occur at set times (e.g., at the end of the course or 6 months after completion). As one FILE participant puts it: ‘When FILE ends your career as an information literacy professional starts.’     

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本文论述网络资源编目的特点、编目工作面临的困难,介绍ＵＳＭＡＲＣ如何实现对网络资源的编目以及网络资源编目的工作程序。     

HIV/AIDS reference questions in an AIDS service organization special library

Librarians in many venues may anticipate a wide range of reference questions related to HIV and AIDS. Information on HIV/ AIDS is now available in medical, academic, and public libraries and on the Internet, and ranges from the most complex science to the most private disclosures about personal behavior. In this article, the 913 reference questions asked between May 2002 and August 2004 in a special library in a mid-western community-based AIDS service organization are described and analyzed.     

Health Services Technology/Assessment Text (HSTAT)

Health Services Technology/Assessment Text (HSTAT), an online collection of documents pertaining to clinical practice guidelines, HIV/AIDS treatment information, and health care decision making, was recently introduced by the National Library of Medicine. Access to HSTAT is available through the NLM Full-Text Retrieval System (FTRS), a document search and retrieval system developed by the Information Technology Branch of NLM. Internet FTP, Gopher, and World Wide Web clients may also be used to obtain documents from the HSTAT collection.     

网络环境下信息存储与检索技术的发展

信息存储与检索技术是信息传递中的重要环节。检索语言和检索效率密切相关，它在信息检索过程中起着语言保障的作用。为满足不同用户能够检索到所需要的信息，检索语言必然朝着自然语言、用户界面友好的方向发展。     

The information-seeking behaviour of doctors: a review of the evidence

This paper provides a narrative review of the available literature from the past 10 years (1996-2006) that focus on the information seeking behaviour of doctors. The review considers the literature in three sub-themes: Theme 1, the Information Needs of Doctors includes information need, frequency of doctors' questions and types of information needs; Theme 2, Information Seeking by Doctors embraces pattern of information resource use, time spent searching, barriers to information searching and information searching skills; Theme 3, Information Sources Utilized by Doctors comprises the number of sources utilized, comparison of information sources consulted, computer usage, ranking of information resources, printed resource use, personal digital assistant (PDA) use, electronic database use and the Internet. The review is wide ranging. It would seem that the traditional methods of face-to-face communication and use of hard-copy evidence still prevail amongst qualified medical staff in the clinical setting. The use of new technologies embracing the new digital age in information provision may influence this in the future. However, for now, it would seem that there is still research to be undertaken to uncover the most effective methods of encouraging clinicians to use the best evidence in everyday practice.     

Insights into the diffusion of HIV/AIDS information in higher education institutions in South Africa

According to the UNAIDS [(1999). Young people and HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS Briefing Paper. Geneva: UNAIDS] report it is widely agreed that in the absence of a cure, only preventative measures brought about by education and customized information exchanges can mitigate the impacts of the disease. The purpose of the study was to review the framework, nature and scope of HIV/AIDS information communication strategies employed by higher education institutions in South Africa. Both qualitative and quantitative research design and methodologies were employed largely through survey, observation and document analysis. The findings reveal that firstly, HIV/AIDS information is provided through a variety of communication tools, channels and strategies. Secondly, in most instances, HIV/AIDS messages are not context appropriate and are unsuitable for academic constituencies most of whom are knowledgeable about the disease. Thirdly, there is a lack of synergy in dealing with HIV/AIDS in the higher education sector in South Africa. Other hidden issues involved in the communication of HIV/AIDS information have been highlighted. Lastly, an institutional framework appropriate for inter-institutional exchanges of HIV/AIDS information is suggested.     

Assessing internet access and use in a medically underserved population: implications for providing enhanced health information services

Background: The relationship between health information seeking, patient engagement and health literacy is not well understood. This is especially true in medically underserved populations, which are often viewed as having limited access to health information. Objective: To improve communication between an urban health centre and the community it serves, a team of library and information science researchers undertook an assessment of patients’ level and methods of access to and use of the Internet. Methods: Data were collected in 53 face‐to‐face anonymous interviews with patients at the centre. Interviews were tape‐recorded for referential accuracy, and data were analysed to identify patterns of access and use. Results: Seventy‐two percentage of study participants reported having access to the Internet through either computers or cell phones. Barriers to Internet access were predominantly lack of equipment or training rather than lack of interest. Only 21% of those with Internet access reported using the Internet to look for health information. Conclusion: The findings suggest that lack of access to the Internet in itself is not the primary barrier to seeking health information in this population and that the digital divide exists not at the level of information access but rather at the level of information use.     

Partnerships between the old and the new: Examining the strategic alliances between broadcast television networks and internet firms in the context of convergence

Abstract

This study applied a resource‐based view (RBV) strategy framework to analyze the major broadcast television networks’ alliances with Internet firms in the United States from 1998 to 2001 in the context of the convergence between the Internet and television. The findings show that the television networks primarily contributed property‐based resources, while the Internet firms largely contributed knowledge‐based resources to the alliances. The findings also indicate that the broadcast networks’ alliance structural preferences were influenced by the resources they contributed to and what they desired to access through the alliances. The networks used their property‐based resources as a basis to form Internet alliances, and in return they obtained access to Internet firms’ knowledge‐based resources that are essential in creating an Internet presence for the broadcasters.     

Evaluation of three point-of-care healthcare databases: BMJ Point-of-Care, Clin-eguide and Nursing Reference Centre

Background: Point of care resources make it easier for clinicians to find answers to questions that arise during a clinical encounter. In order to make informed purchase decisions in times of tight budgets, librarians need to have a better understanding of which resources will meet their patrons’ clinical information needs. Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the content, interface and usability of three point‐of‐care tools: BMJ Point‐of‐Care, Clin‐eguide and Nursing Reference Centre. Methods: A questionnaire designed to gather quantitative and qualitative data was created using Survey Monkey. The survey was distributed to healthcare practitioners in Alberta’s two largest health regions, and the data were analysed for emergent themes. Results: The themes that arose – ease of use, validated content, relevancy to practice – generally echoed those stated in the literature. No one database fared significantly better, due to differing features, content and client preference. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the survey, the themes that emerged provide a springboard for future research on the efficacy of information resources used at the point of care, and the need for deeper analysis of these recent additions to the medical information market.     

基于元数据仓储构建科技文献共享服务平台

随着互联网的普及与发展,各种信息资源铺天盖地而来,信息资源结构以及对资源结构的需求也在发生着 变化,传统的文献信息服务已经不能完全满足用户的需求。通过对现有的异构整合技术进行分析比对,提出基于元数 据仓储构建区域科技文献共享服务平台,结合平台的建设实践,探讨元数据仓储知识库的构建,并对平台的功能模块 设计、实现以及应用成效等进行详细说明,最后指出科技文献共享服务平台未来的建设和发展方向。     

从隐蔽网络到国际互联网信息资源控制计划

介绍隐蔽网络研究概况和国际互联网信息资源控制计划的要点及纲要。     

Producing an information leaflet to help patients access high quality drug information on the Internet: a local study

Objectives: To develop a patient information leaflet (PIL) to help local patients meet their drug information needs using the Internet, and to perform a preliminary evaluation of this tool. Methods: Development—a cross‐sectional survey of the drug information needs of local patients using a semi‐structured questionnaire; assessment of websites offering free, consumer‐orientated medicines information using set criteria; identification of consensus criteria to evaluate the quality of health‐related on‐line information; evaluation—views on a draft patient information leaflet from a focus group. Results: Those surveyed felt that being directed to high‐quality websites and being provided with assessment criteria for on‐line information would be useful. The three websites fulfilling most of the set quality criteria were Surgery Door ( www.surgerydoor.co.uk ), InteliHealth ( www.intelihealth.com ) and medline plus ( www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus ). The six most frequently cited assessment criteria were currency, authorship, commerciality, relevance, links and attribution. A draft leaflet was constructed listing the above three websites and six criteria along with tips on how to search the Internet effectively. A focus group reacted favourably. Conclusion: The Internet is a source of drug information—an information leaflet may help to guide local patients through its variable information quality.