Create information resources and training for agricultural workers serving community health workers

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J Med Libr Assoc. 2022 Jan 1;110(1):113-118. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2022.1272.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Community health workers serving farmers have limited access to farmer health research findings, training and educational resources. With funding from the National Library of Medicine, we are working to improve the health information literacy of community health workers and agricultural workers. We conducted focus group discussions with community health workers to explore their experiences with agricultural worker health education and information, their information-seeking behaviors, and their technology and information needs. information. The focus group data provided insight into key areas where community health workers would like to benefit from professional development.

CASE PRESENTATION: Our team, which includes health science librarians, has developed a list of resources containing agricultural worker health educational materials, videos to increase the skills of community health workers in finding information about eHealth and webinars to introduce these resources to community health workers. The videos, available in Spanish and English, included instructions on finding and evaluating health information online, accessing trusted sources of consumer health information online, and tips for advanced searches for Google and PubMed. Through three webinars, we introduced the resource list, videos, and design software to create materials and infographics to community health workers.

CONCLUSIONS: Community health workers play a critical role in providing health education and information to agricultural workers, and our efforts represent a first step in addressing community health workers’ limited access to professional development. Health sciences librarians are well placed to partner with interdisciplinary teams working to reduce health disparities and provide resources and training to community health workers, agricultural workers and other communities underserved.

PMID:35210971 | CPM:PMC8830404 | DO I:10.5195/jmla.2022.1272

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