Senior CHAT

Classes

Let’s CHAT About It: Consumer Health Awareness Training for Senior CitizensMary Lou Strong, Ladonna Guillot, Jean Caswell Badeau ~ Southeastern Louisiana University

Preliminary Results:•Over 70% of Senior CHAT participants completed Personal Health Profiles•Use of MedlinePlus increased after training•Use of NIHSeniorHealth increased after training•Senior Citizen Consumer Health LibGuide was viewed 800 times•Raised the University and Library profile in the community•Met University strategic priority to promote lifelong learning

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Senior CHAT was funded by a 2010-2011 National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region Express Consumer Health Outreach Award Project was a collaboration between Southeastern Louisiana University and the Tangipahoa Voluntary Council on Aging Hammond Senior Center

Fall 2010 Spring 2011

Objective:Senior CHAT provided basic computer training and instruction in accessing and evaluating online consumer health information to residents of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, served by the Tangipahoa Voluntary Council on Aging (TVCOA). The objective of the project was to improve health information literacy and promote better health outcomes among elderly residents of Tangipahoa Parish.

37%

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26%

Age of Participants

60-6970-7980-89

Hammond Senior Center

Hurricane Katrina demonstrated a need for portable Personal Health Profiles.

• 11% of the Tangipahoa Parish population are 65 years or older

• 20% of Tangipahoa Parish senior citizens have incomes below the federal poverty level

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Use of MedlinePlus by Participants

•Eight class sessions 1½ hours each•Topics included computer basics, NIHSeniorHealth, MedlinePlus, evaluation of consumer health websites•Textbooks created using NIHSeniorHealth Toolkit for Trainers •TVCOA staff received 2 hours training

•63% of participants were 70 years or older•76% of participants were female; 24% were male

“…We found our experience exciting and exhilarating to be learning new skills with most of us being in our 70s and 80s!Not only were we learning and enjoying it, but we were being introduced to such valuable information!...” Letter to the editor, Hammond Daily Star, April 15, 2011

Needs Assessment:•86% of Louisiana parishes are designated health professional

shortage areas

•Louisiana is ranked 49th in the nation in health status

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Use of NIH SeniorHealth by Participants

Student Comment

6 weeks post instruction

6 weeks post instruction