Friday, May 02, 2008
The Medical Library Association Guide to Cancer Information: Authoritative, Patient-Friendly Print and Electronic Resources (Book Review)
The Medical Library Association Guide to Cancer Information: Authoritative, Patient-Friendly Print and Electronic Resources by Ruti Malis Volk
ISBN: 978-1-55570-585-5
Published: 2007
Pages: 372 pp.; softcover
Price: $85
There is no shortage of medical information available on the internet today: A consumer can easily become overwhelmed with the choices and variety of offerings. That is why this book is needed. It provides a guide to authoritative, reliable, and understandable resources--with no attempt to cover every item available. It is aimed at those professionals providing guidance to the public, not necessarily to the primary information seekers themselves.
The author is the librarian in charge of the Patient Education Resource Center at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also had a child who died of cancer, so she has experienced the information needs from both sides of the table. She points out that timely, accurate, and understandable information is required throughout the entire process of living with cancer.
The book is divided into three parts. The first is a primer on cancer, building the foundation of knowledge needed to provide cancer information assistance to the public. This includes definitions or terms, explanations of different types of cancers, and guides to general reference sources. Part 2 contains separate chapters on each of 25 different types of cancers, also divided between adults and children. Each chapter contains a description of the cancer and basic facts about it, along with a list of information resources. The resources are divided into sections for brochures, books, audio/visual resources, web resources, and patient support organizations. They are selected for their relevancy, education level, accuracy, timeliness, format, and quality. The focus is on resources that cover the specific topic, not necessarily more general resources that cover a wide variety of topics.
The last section of the book covers cancer prevention, treatments, and quality-of-life issues. Again the focus is on a few selected, high-quality resources rather than providing a list of everything that is available.
If you have any need for cancer information, you must get this book. It will save you and your patrons valuable time sorting through the myriad of resources available.
By Wiley, Deborah Lynne
ISBN: 978-1-55570-585-5
Published: 2007
Pages: 372 pp.; softcover
Price: $85
There is no shortage of medical information available on the internet today: A consumer can easily become overwhelmed with the choices and variety of offerings. That is why this book is needed. It provides a guide to authoritative, reliable, and understandable resources--with no attempt to cover every item available. It is aimed at those professionals providing guidance to the public, not necessarily to the primary information seekers themselves.
The author is the librarian in charge of the Patient Education Resource Center at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also had a child who died of cancer, so she has experienced the information needs from both sides of the table. She points out that timely, accurate, and understandable information is required throughout the entire process of living with cancer.
The book is divided into three parts. The first is a primer on cancer, building the foundation of knowledge needed to provide cancer information assistance to the public. This includes definitions or terms, explanations of different types of cancers, and guides to general reference sources. Part 2 contains separate chapters on each of 25 different types of cancers, also divided between adults and children. Each chapter contains a description of the cancer and basic facts about it, along with a list of information resources. The resources are divided into sections for brochures, books, audio/visual resources, web resources, and patient support organizations. They are selected for their relevancy, education level, accuracy, timeliness, format, and quality. The focus is on resources that cover the specific topic, not necessarily more general resources that cover a wide variety of topics.
The last section of the book covers cancer prevention, treatments, and quality-of-life issues. Again the focus is on a few selected, high-quality resources rather than providing a list of everything that is available.
If you have any need for cancer information, you must get this book. It will save you and your patrons valuable time sorting through the myriad of resources available.
By Wiley, Deborah Lynne
Monday, July 18, 2005
Collaboration and Marketing Ensure Public and Medical Library Viability
The Colorado Consumer Health Information Librarians Listserv (CCHILL) formed in 2002 and began holding quarterly meetings (National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Midcontinental Region, 2004). The CCHILL group's mission is to establish personal connections between public and medical librarians. They meet regularly to share ideas and innovations, develop relationships, talk with professionals who have similar consumer health missions in their institutions, and develop collaborative projects for the mutual benefit of the institutions and the public they serve. CCHILL has met primarily in the greater Denver area. It is hoped that the rest of the state will implement CCHILL groups as geographic areas permit.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Helping Patients Interpret "Medspeak"
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Power Line
Power Line is a conservative blog run by three lawyers, John H. Hinderaker ("Hindrocket"), Scott W. Johnson ("The Big Trunk") and Paul Mirengoff ("Deacon"). Power Line covers political and social issues relevant to conservative Americans. It gained notoriety in 2004 for reporting on the Killian documents controversy, dubbed "Rathergate," during which the bloggers and their readers contributed their research and findings to coverage of the case. Powerline became part of the Pajamahadeen, when criticized by a former CBS News executive. The bloggers' disagreements with the editorial opinions of the hometown Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper are frequently posted on the site.
In December 2004, Star Tribune columnist and local Air America Minnesota radio commentator, Nick Coleman responded to several of their claims in a piece called "'Blog of the Year' goes to the extremes." Coleman's editor later stated that the article contained inaccuracies and subjective opinions. Official corrections were small, and mostly focused on Coleman's interpretations.
Power Line came under criticism from left-wing blogs Daily Kos and Eschaton when Hindrocket stated that former US President Jimmy Carter was "on the other side", which they interpreted to mean 'sympathetic to terrorists'. Hindrocket later clarified his criticisms of Carter.
Powerline theorized that the alleged GOP talking points memorandum in the Terri Schiavo case may have been faked. [1] This was proven false when Brian Darling, legal council for Republican Florida Senator Mel Martinez, admitted that he wrote the memo. Powerline reported this as soon as they knew of it.
Powerline has also been critical of Ward Churchill. Power Line is part of the Northern Alliance Radio Network, which hosts a weekly radio show of the same name in Minnesota.
Power Line is a conservative blog run by three lawyers, John H. Hinderaker ("Hindrocket"), Scott W. Johnson ("The Big Trunk") and Paul Mirengoff ("Deacon"). Power Line covers political and social issues relevant to conservative Americans. It gained notoriety in 2004 for reporting on the Killian documents controversy, dubbed "Rathergate," during which the bloggers and their readers contributed their research and findings to coverage of the case. Powerline became part of the Pajamahadeen, when criticized by a former CBS News executive. The bloggers' disagreements with the editorial opinions of the hometown Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper are frequently posted on the site.
In December 2004, Star Tribune columnist and local Air America Minnesota radio commentator, Nick Coleman responded to several of their claims in a piece called "'Blog of the Year' goes to the extremes." Coleman's editor later stated that the article contained inaccuracies and subjective opinions. Official corrections were small, and mostly focused on Coleman's interpretations.
Power Line came under criticism from left-wing blogs Daily Kos and Eschaton when Hindrocket stated that former US President Jimmy Carter was "on the other side", which they interpreted to mean 'sympathetic to terrorists'. Hindrocket later clarified his criticisms of Carter.
Powerline theorized that the alleged GOP talking points memorandum in the Terri Schiavo case may have been faked. [1] This was proven false when Brian Darling, legal council for Republican Florida Senator Mel Martinez, admitted that he wrote the memo. Powerline reported this as soon as they knew of it.
Powerline has also been critical of Ward Churchill. Power Line is part of the Northern Alliance Radio Network, which hosts a weekly radio show of the same name in Minnesota.
Tard Blog
The Tard Blog is a weblog about teaching special education.
There have been three authors for the Tard Blog. Their names on the blog are not their real names as any teacher who would reveal the information they write about would likely be fired. The first author was known by the pseudonym Riti Sped. The second, available only on the alternate site, is known as Sarah Hammon. The third and current author is known as Kristy Pell.
It is true that the Tard Blog features the problems of developmentally disabled children for the amusement of the audience, but this is not to imply callousness. The authors have all chosen special education as their profession not in search of a cheap laugh, but to help children. They can't help it if they also find it amusing. As site sponsor Tucker Max explains:
"Humor has several uses, and not all are to ridicule or debase. This page should be seen in the same light as surgeons or paramedics making jokes about injured people, or psychiatrists making light of their mentally deranged patients. The people in those fields use humor as a way to relieve the daily stress and aggravation of their very difficult jobs. Paramedics and doctors, especially battlefield surgeons, are renowned for making sick jokes about their patients during their off-time. If they don't release the emotional tension through humor, then it has to come out some other way, hence the saying, 'If I don't laugh I'll have to cry.'"
Indeed, often the blog deals more with the environment the students live in than the students themselves. Uncaring administrators, overworked teachers, and (especially) abusive and neglectful parents are frequent themes. The very first entry, written by Riti Sped, describes a mother who is self-absorbed and clearly does not care about her child. Her daughter (only mentioned in passing) was born addicted to crack cocaine and has fetal alcohol syndrome. Riti suspects the mother only shows up for conferences "because we have called Child Protective Services on her so many times, that she now fears losing her daughter, who is the mother's meal ticket to government aid." Later stories often revolve around Riti Sped having to care for two of her students, brothers, whose father is in jail and whose father's girlfriend is an irresponsible drug addict.
The Tard Blog is a weblog about teaching special education.
There have been three authors for the Tard Blog. Their names on the blog are not their real names as any teacher who would reveal the information they write about would likely be fired. The first author was known by the pseudonym Riti Sped. The second, available only on the alternate site, is known as Sarah Hammon. The third and current author is known as Kristy Pell.
It is true that the Tard Blog features the problems of developmentally disabled children for the amusement of the audience, but this is not to imply callousness. The authors have all chosen special education as their profession not in search of a cheap laugh, but to help children. They can't help it if they also find it amusing. As site sponsor Tucker Max explains:
"Humor has several uses, and not all are to ridicule or debase. This page should be seen in the same light as surgeons or paramedics making jokes about injured people, or psychiatrists making light of their mentally deranged patients. The people in those fields use humor as a way to relieve the daily stress and aggravation of their very difficult jobs. Paramedics and doctors, especially battlefield surgeons, are renowned for making sick jokes about their patients during their off-time. If they don't release the emotional tension through humor, then it has to come out some other way, hence the saying, 'If I don't laugh I'll have to cry.'"
Indeed, often the blog deals more with the environment the students live in than the students themselves. Uncaring administrators, overworked teachers, and (especially) abusive and neglectful parents are frequent themes. The very first entry, written by Riti Sped, describes a mother who is self-absorbed and clearly does not care about her child. Her daughter (only mentioned in passing) was born addicted to crack cocaine and has fetal alcohol syndrome. Riti suspects the mother only shows up for conferences "because we have called Child Protective Services on her so many times, that she now fears losing her daughter, who is the mother's meal ticket to government aid." Later stories often revolve around Riti Sped having to care for two of her students, brothers, whose father is in jail and whose father's girlfriend is an irresponsible drug addict.
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