Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108127

Nancy R. La Pelle, PhD¹, E. Hatheway Simpson, MPH¹, Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH², and Elaine Martin, MLS¹. (1) Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508-875-1393, nancy.lapelle@umassmed.edu, (2) Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655

It is clear from the trend towards evidence-based practices in many fields that public health (PH) practice can be better informed if credible information about effective practices is accessible. Comparing sources of evidence-based information in clinical medicine to what is available for PH, we found fewer examples of readily accessible sources in PH. This project was conceived to identify desirable enhancements to evidence-based information access for PH professionals.

A qualitative study identified how PH professionals currently access information and what enhancements they need. Nineteen individual interviews were conducted across two state health department bureaus – communicable disease control and community health promotion. Follow-up focus groups were conducted to gather additional data on preferences for information accessing models and features.

An information maturity continuum emerged ranging from fast-breaking news about emerging health threats to evidence-based practice guidelines. Needs within this continuum varied somewhat across bureaus, but both groups expressed needs for improved information access such as better organizing/filtering of information, access to systematic reviews and/or summaries as well as full text of articles, one portal access with a good search engine, and broader access to best practice information.

Both groups identified a need for PH-specific filters to create more efficient access to relevant information either delivered to their desktops via listservs or sought via search engines. Informants stated a preference for making enhancements to systems with which they were already familiar such as PubMed.

Learning Objectives: