Abstract
ntroduction: Searching and retrieving relevant literature about Appalachian populations can be challenging. Not only is the concept of Appalachia somewhat nebulous, but searching about vulnerable populations are further complicated by misunderstandings on how to properly construct queries, how to choose appropriate terminology, and the inherent biases of bibliometric databases.
Purpose Statement: The Medical Center Library (MCL) at the University of Kentucky developed an online resource guide to teach users to navigate this complex information landscape through newly created tutorials and interactive modules on searching for health disparities literature. Among the modules is a section dedicated to instructing users on how to effectively search for literature on Appalachian populations. This presentation will detail the creation, launch, and future for this module and the larger health disparities resource guide.
Methods: In the Fall of 2023, the MCL launched the Searching For Health Disparities Literature resource guide. It is comprised of three tutorials on concepts related to research in healthcare access and outcomes, including the social determinants of health, vulnerable populations, and researching health disparities. It also includes three interactive modules on conducting literature searches on specific populations, including LBGTQIA+ populations, Appalachian populations, and racial and ethnic minorities.
Results: Since the launch of the guide, it has been visited over 1,700 times. The Appalachian module has specifically been visited 170 times which is comparative to the other modules. This high usage demonstrates both an interest in these educational modules and the potential for impact for similar guides in the future.
Conclusions: This guide has been utilized at a high rate since its launch. The MCL plans to expand the research guide into other population areas in the future.
Purpose Statement: The Medical Center Library (MCL) at the University of Kentucky developed an online resource guide to teach users to navigate this complex information landscape through newly created tutorials and interactive modules on searching for health disparities literature. Among the modules is a section dedicated to instructing users on how to effectively search for literature on Appalachian populations. This presentation will detail the creation, launch, and future for this module and the larger health disparities resource guide.
Methods: In the Fall of 2023, the MCL launched the Searching For Health Disparities Literature resource guide. It is comprised of three tutorials on concepts related to research in healthcare access and outcomes, including the social determinants of health, vulnerable populations, and researching health disparities. It also includes three interactive modules on conducting literature searches on specific populations, including LBGTQIA+ populations, Appalachian populations, and racial and ethnic minorities.
Results: Since the launch of the guide, it has been visited over 1,700 times. The Appalachian module has specifically been visited 170 times which is comparative to the other modules. This high usage demonstrates both an interest in these educational modules and the potential for impact for similar guides in the future.
Conclusions: This guide has been utilized at a high rate since its launch. The MCL plans to expand the research guide into other population areas in the future.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| State | Published - 2024 |
