As health information professionals, we recognize that accurate health information not only enhances the quality of life but can also be a lifesaver. Medical librarians may know that MLA’s Consumer Health Information Specialization offers training in providing health information services to consumers and recognition for the accomplishment of acquiring new health information skills. Responding to user feedback, NNLM created a set of on-demand modules covering each of the five essential competencies for providing Consumer Health Information, making it even easier to get started and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to become a confident, expert provider of health information.
In this presentation, participants will learn about why the class was developed, the types of activities utilized, and class evaluation outcomes.
Description
The Medical Library Association has outlined eight core competencies and two levels of specialization in the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS).
The goal of CHIS on-Demand is to support easy tracking of the Level I competencies and more flexibility for library and information workers. The team drew from existing classes and integrated new content with an emphasis on addressing a variety of learning approaches. Through self-paced readings, interactive exercises, quizzes, and videos, five separate modules cover critical core content related to Level I CHIS competencies.
Learners can take any or all modules and in any order. Offering a time agnostic class format (on-demand) that focuses on the ‘need to know’ for consumer health information provision removes barriers of access, time zones, connectivity, and scheduling, allowing more learners to access training content.
By supporting all types of libraries to complete CHIS, we support health information access, encourage competent health reference, and support the NNLM goal of reaching “more audiences in new ways”.
Initially, the content was opened to selected users for class evaluation feedback and used in an iterative process to improve the modules. We have continued to incorporate learner feedback to improve the class over time.
Program Conclusion
Class evaluations are available for each of the five modules. Between June 2022 and November 2023, 776 evaluations were completed. The results were overwhelmingly positive but there have been suggestions that have been incorporated over time through class updates. Some of the key results have been that 95.5% of evaluations indicated that learners would “share skills or resources learned with others” and 94.5 % of evaluators indicated that what they learned could “support my end users’/patrons needs more effectively”. Feedback continues to be included in class updates and a new set of modules to support CHIS Level II is currently under development.