Opens January 2025
Learn how to conduct a health reference interview using ethical and effective communication strategies in this 3 credit-hour, on-demand class.
This class provides basic information about communication and confidentiality for library workers who answer health reference questions, and was created for an audience of people who work in public or academic libraries or other information professions.
Content is presented through a pre-test, three lessons, and a post-test. Lessons include interactive content and non-graded knowledge checks. Lesson 1 begins with an introduction to confidentiality and privacy policies and guidance for libraries, and how the ALA Library Bill of Rights, ALA Code of Ethics, and MLA Code of Ethics for Health Science Librarianship guide can guide how you provide reference services to the public. Lesson 2 walks through the five steps of the health reference interview to give you basic, effective techniques for communicating with patrons about their health information needs and answering their health reference questions. Lesson 3 explores three common yet tricky subjects in health reference: cancer, diabetes, and drug information, and presents three scenarios you might encounter: answering questions over the phone, answering a question from someone who speaks a language other than languages you speak fluently, and what to do if you are pressured for medical advice.
Timed Agenda
Pre-test: 15 minutes
Lesson 1 Introduction, Privacy and Confidentiality: 60 minutes
Lesson 2 The Health Reference Interview: 45 minutes
Lesson 3 Common Topics and Scenarios in Health Reference: 45 minutes
Post-test: 15 minutes
This class addresses increasing health information access and use by including information about the NLM/NIH resource MedlinePlus.gov.
There are six learning objectives for this class. By completing three lessons and a pre and post-test, learners will be able to:
1. Identify library association ethical guidelines which connect to protecting a patron's health privacy and confidentiality
2. List simple ways library workers can protect patrons’ health privacy and confidentiality
3. Identify the 5 steps of a health reference interview
4. Respond to questions about drugs, cancer and diabetes
5. React to common health reference scenarios
6. Describe ways librarians can practice ethical health information provision throughout the reference interview.
3 hours