Abstract
Good health is essential for every human being. Health information is essential for maintaining good health, preventing diseases as well as making sound health decisions. People can only be able to access, utilize, and benefit from healthcare services if they have proper information about these services. It is here that health information literacy comes into play. The information related to every aspect of health is easily available today, but the main problem here lies in finding, selecting, and using relevant health information and preventing misinformation. Libraries have a pivotal role to play here. This chapter is mainly concerned with identifying the gaps in the provision of health information to the general public and the role of health information literacy in paving the way of filling up these gaps. It will be helpful in knowing the current standing of public and medical libraries in providing health information resources and services. It will also suggest the role of these libraries of India in promoting health information literacy among their respective user communities.
TopBackground And Literature Review
Health Information Literacy as defined by the Medical Library Association is “the set of abilities needed to recognize a health information need; identify likely information sources and use them to retrieve relevant information; assess the quality of information and its applicability to a specific situation; and analyze, understand, and use the information to make good health decision”. Health Information Literacy is essential for seeking preventive health, appropriate management of disease, and improving the wellbeing of citizens as a whole. The various reasons which necessitate that people are empowered with HIL are:
Key Terms in this Chapter
Health: Health is the state of complete physical and mental well-being of a person in everyday life.
Health Information: The data and information related to different aspects (physical, mental, reproductive, etc.) of health.
Health Information Literacy: Health information literacy means the abilities and skills needed for identifying health information needs, accessing relevant health information from reliable health information resources, and using that information for making sound health decisions for living healthier lives.
Health Awareness: General understanding and knowledge about health, healthcare and its services, health needs, diseases, and preventive measures.
Infoepidemic: A large amount of inaccurate, false, and unreliable information about something spreading at a very fast rate into a large area.
Medical Libraries: The libraries which are established to serve the information needs of medical communities like healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and patients.
Post-COVID-19 New Normal: A new future and new way of living originated after the Coronavirus pandemic of 2019.
Public Libraries: The libraries which are established to serve the general public and are managed by public funds.