Hispanics and public libraries
| Autor: | EunYoung Yoo-Lee, Tamara Rhodes, Gabriel M. Peterson |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
HRHIS
education.field_of_study 030505 public health Minority group Library card business.industry 05 social sciences Population Health literacy Information needs Library and Information Sciences Public relations 03 medical and health sciences Limited English proficiency Health education 0509 other social sciences 050904 information & library sciences 0305 other medical science business Psychology education |
| Zdroj: | Reference Services Review. 44:85-99 |
| ISSN: | 0090-7324 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/rsr-02-2016-0015 |
| Popis: | Purpose The fastest-growing and the largest minority group in the USA, Hispanics are known to have low health literacy because of their limited English proficiency (LEP) and other socio-economic and cultural factors. This paper aims to examine the health information-seeking behaviors of Hispanics in the e-health environment and their use of public libraries as a health information source/service. Design/methodology/approach An interviewer-administered survey was conducted using a semi-structured instrument. The questionnaires inquired about Hispanics’ health information needs, source use and source preference; use of the library for health information needs; and their perceptions and satisfaction about the library’s consumer health information services. A total of 26 Hispanics were recruited from a Hispanic community organization, a public library and an ethnic grocery store in North Carolina. Findings The majority of the participants are foreign born (92.3 per cent) and non-English speakers (84.6 per cent). The internet was the most frequently used source, followed by friends/family, doctors and TV. Eighty-one per cent of the participants were internet users, and most of them (71 per cent) used the internet at home. Only 23 per cent visited a public library to search the internet for health information. Some barriers to using a public library mentioned by the participants include lack of time to visit a library, lack of skills in using the library materials, transportation, LEP, lack of eligibility for a library card, etc. Social implications The findings will be useful for libraries and state/federal health services to evaluate and develop library services suitable for the Hispanics’ consumer health information needs. Originality/value This study is one of a few studies that use an empirical study of a low health literacy ethnic population to examine the possible roles of public libraries in enhancing health literacy. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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