National Network of Libraries of Medicine

nnlm.gov

Dragonfly

Fall 2003 -- Volume 34, Number 4

Network Members Conclude Outreach Projects. Part II: Cross Cultural Health

by Alyssa Sampson, Librarian
Cross Cultural Health Care Program

The Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) is a non-profit organization that endeavors to connect health care and communities. CCHCP's activities and projects include medical interpreter and cultural competence training, publishing bilingual medical glossaries and other publications, community-based research and demonstration projects, and its library or Resource Center, which is open to the public. The Resource Center has a specialized collection on culture and health issues and provides reference assistance and borrowing privileges to health care providers, students, and others.

The Cross Cultural Health Care Program's Resource Center received a National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) grant for the period from November 2001 through May 2003. The end of 2001 and beginning of 2002 was a difficult transitional period for CCHCP, as the organization separated from PacMed Clinics in Seattle and became its own independent 501(c)(3) non-profit. NN/LM PNR allowed us to start the project in June of 2002, when we were ready.

We wanted to help people in the Puget Sound area, especially providers, connect to information relevant to cultural issues in health but weren't sure what approaches to take. First, a needs assessment survey was sent to about 240 area organizations, with an emphasis on safety-net providers, professional associations, and advocacy organizations. The response rate was 20%. Many respondents expressed an interest in learning to access such information, and several suggested "email updates" or a newsletter as a preferred way of receiving information.

Four customized trainings/presentations were given at clinics or within longer CCHCP trainings, which included extensive packets of materials catering to each audience's needs and interests. Keeping in mind the wide variety of participants' skill levels, content was designed not only to provide resources on the spot, but also to provide some basic tools and specific ideas to take away and make people aware of the free or inexpensive resources available through public libraries and the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Every group of participants, which ranged in size from seven to forty, was very ethnically diverse with a substantial number of people of color. A field trip by a group of University of Washington School of Public Health graduate students comprised a similar but less formal event.

Promotional activities included development of a library brochure, now in its second printing, and a display at CCHCP's open house to celebrate our new office in January 2003. The Resource Center was previously housed in a basement in one of PacMed's buildings; it is now housed in the comfortable and attractive front office of our new suites, with large south-facing windows. We now provide PubMed and MEDLINEPlus Basics brochures to visitors thanks to the grant.

Lastly, we distributed five issues of a newsletter called Cross Cultural Resources. Modified from the old "new acquisitions list," the newsletter provides mostly annotated collections of online, print, and other resources on a particular culture and health-related subject, often with tips for using the Internet or NLM resources. Focus subjects have included "Diabetes nutrition in diverse communities," "Community profiles on the web," "Cultural competence," and more, with the intent of not duplicating others' work. So far the newsletter has around 220 subscribers, many of whom pass it on to untold numbers of colleagues. Most subscribers are directly involved with providing health care in underserved, limited English-speaking, or culturally diverse communities and are often part of these communities themselves.

On the whole, the project was a challenging learning experience. The trainings/presentations aspect was expected to be a large part of it. We didn't plan beforehand exactly who to work with, which apparently wasn't the right way to go. However we let the needs assessment guide us and that was a good barometer of what people like, where their skills levels are, and what they are looking for. There were a few other activities we wanted to do but there wasn't time or internal resources. Instead, the newsletter took on a life of its own and became quite popular, drawing wonderful feedback.

Thanks to NN/LM PNR, especially Linda Milgrom, and everyone involved, for the opportunity and patience.

The Cross Cultural Health Care Program Resource Center is located at
270 S. Hanford St. Ste. 100
Seattle, WA 98134
(Off of 4th Ave., south of downtown, just north of the West Seattle Bridge)
resource@xculture.org
206-860-0329

National Network of Libraries of Medicine

nnlm.gov

Dragonfly

Fall 2003 -- Volume 34, Number 4

Network Members Conclude Outreach Projects. Part II: Cross Cultural Health

Other articles in the "Network Members Conclude Outreach Projects" series:

URL: http://nnlm.gov/pnr/news/200310/cchcp.html