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18 Digital Health Literacy: An Evolving Picture

  • Prudence W. Dalrymple

    Dalrymple, Prudence W.

    Prudence Dalrymple holds a PhD in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, US. a Master of Science from Simmons University, Boston, MA, US and an MS in Health Sciences Informatics from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, US. She practised as a medical librarian for several years before joining the faculty at the University of Illinois, US, and serving as Dean at Dominican University, River Forest, IL., US. Prior to her retirement, she was the founding director of Drexel University’s interdisciplinary MS in Health Informatics. Professionally active throughout her career, she was elected a Fellow of the Medical Library Association and currently serves on the Boards of the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Health Information Management and the Sewell Learning Partnership. She has worked with IFLA over several years and is the author of over 70 articles and book chapters, co-editor with Brian Galvin of Growing Community Health Literacy through Libraries: Sharing Global Perspectives (2020 and a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. Her most recent work focuses on health literacy. She continues to pursue her writing from her new home in Seattle.

    Email: prudencedalrymple@gmail.com
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Libraries Empowering Society through Digital Literacy
This chapter is in the book Libraries Empowering Society through Digital Literacy

Abstract

In early 2020, the pandemic known as COVID-19 was barely on the horizon, and much of society was ill-prepared to deal with it. This chapter addresses the responses of libraries around the globe to the impact of COVID-19 focusing on health literacy in particular. Little was known about the disease, how it spread or what steps were needed to contain or treat it, and misunderstanding and misinformation proliferated. Information about the pandemic was primarily circulated through digital media, which increased the need for improved digital health literacy. This chapter focuses on how libraries throughout the world took steps to help their communities deal with the pandemic, and to envision future directions for improving health literacy, particularly digital health literacy, throughout society. The chapter examines the terminology of digital health literacy, explores the differences between health literacy and digital health literacy, and reviews the literature of digital health literacy in clinical medicine, public health, and social work, emphasizing interprofessional collaboration among librarians, clinicians, researchers, social workers, and public health advocates. It concludes with a brief discussion of social determinants of health, and the central role libraries play in meeting society’s need to address digital health literacy in a global society.

Abstract

In early 2020, the pandemic known as COVID-19 was barely on the horizon, and much of society was ill-prepared to deal with it. This chapter addresses the responses of libraries around the globe to the impact of COVID-19 focusing on health literacy in particular. Little was known about the disease, how it spread or what steps were needed to contain or treat it, and misunderstanding and misinformation proliferated. Information about the pandemic was primarily circulated through digital media, which increased the need for improved digital health literacy. This chapter focuses on how libraries throughout the world took steps to help their communities deal with the pandemic, and to envision future directions for improving health literacy, particularly digital health literacy, throughout society. The chapter examines the terminology of digital health literacy, explores the differences between health literacy and digital health literacy, and reviews the literature of digital health literacy in clinical medicine, public health, and social work, emphasizing interprofessional collaboration among librarians, clinicians, researchers, social workers, and public health advocates. It concludes with a brief discussion of social determinants of health, and the central role libraries play in meeting society’s need to address digital health literacy in a global society.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. About IFLA IX
  4. Preface 1
  5. 1 Digital Literacy: An Overview and Introduction 7
  6. Part I Public and School Libraries Promote Digital Literacy through Digital Access and Skills Building
  7. 2 Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Marginalised Citizens in Developing Nations 29
  8. 3 Information Literacy in the Digital Age: Building Competencies Across the Learning Continuum 55
  9. 4 Fostering Digital Literacy in India: Government Initiatives and Digital Inclusion 69
  10. 5 Engaging Young People as Readers: Use of Social Media and Digital Literacy 93
  11. 6 The Library as Lifeline: Digital Inclusion in Post-Pandemic Philadelphia 113
  12. 7 Empowering Librarians and Learners: Building a Supportive Network for Teaching and Learning 128
  13. Part II Academic Libraries Take Novel Approaches to Advance Digital Skills
  14. 8 Transforming the Student Experience in Singapore Polytechnic Libraries Through a Collaborative Digital Literacy Framework 143
  15. 9 Supporting Digital Dexterity in Academic Library Communities Across Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand 162
  16. 10 Developing Student Digital Literacies Through Insights from Educators and Employers 180
  17. 11 Digital Literacy in Latin America: Pre- and Post-COVID-19 197
  18. 12 The Venn of Project Research: A Framework for Librarians and Students Tackling Real-World Challenges 215
  19. 13 Enhancing Student Transliteracy Through Archives: Designing an OER for Primary Source Mastery 230
  20. 14 Misinformation Literacy: Promoting Lifelong Ethical Digital Citizenship 246
  21. 15 Teaching Information Literacy to Would-Be Teachers 259
  22. 16 The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Literacy at the University of Queensland 275
  23. Part III The Influence of Digital Information
  24. 17 Be Not Afraid of a Meme: Developing Visual and Media Literacy Skills 291
  25. 18 Digital Health Literacy: An Evolving Picture 308
  26. 19 Combating Fake News: School Librarians and Digital and Visual Literacy 330
  27. 20 A News Literacy Curriculum Toolkit 349
  28. 21 Digital Learning and Digital Dilemmas 364
  29. 22 Digital Health Literacy: Improving Health Outcomes 383
  30. 23 Digital Literacy: Necessary but Not Sufficient for Learning 401
  31. Contributors 417
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110533583-019

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. About IFLA IX
  4. Preface 1
  5. 1 Digital Literacy: An Overview and Introduction 7
  6. Part I Public and School Libraries Promote Digital Literacy through Digital Access and Skills Building
  7. 2 Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Marginalised Citizens in Developing Nations 29
  8. 3 Information Literacy in the Digital Age: Building Competencies Across the Learning Continuum 55
  9. 4 Fostering Digital Literacy in India: Government Initiatives and Digital Inclusion 69
  10. 5 Engaging Young People as Readers: Use of Social Media and Digital Literacy 93
  11. 6 The Library as Lifeline: Digital Inclusion in Post-Pandemic Philadelphia 113
  12. 7 Empowering Librarians and Learners: Building a Supportive Network for Teaching and Learning 128
  13. Part II Academic Libraries Take Novel Approaches to Advance Digital Skills
  14. 8 Transforming the Student Experience in Singapore Polytechnic Libraries Through a Collaborative Digital Literacy Framework 143
  15. 9 Supporting Digital Dexterity in Academic Library Communities Across Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand 162
  16. 10 Developing Student Digital Literacies Through Insights from Educators and Employers 180
  17. 11 Digital Literacy in Latin America: Pre- and Post-COVID-19 197
  18. 12 The Venn of Project Research: A Framework for Librarians and Students Tackling Real-World Challenges 215
  19. 13 Enhancing Student Transliteracy Through Archives: Designing an OER for Primary Source Mastery 230
  20. 14 Misinformation Literacy: Promoting Lifelong Ethical Digital Citizenship 246
  21. 15 Teaching Information Literacy to Would-Be Teachers 259
  22. 16 The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Literacy at the University of Queensland 275
  23. Part III The Influence of Digital Information
  24. 17 Be Not Afraid of a Meme: Developing Visual and Media Literacy Skills 291
  25. 18 Digital Health Literacy: An Evolving Picture 308
  26. 19 Combating Fake News: School Librarians and Digital and Visual Literacy 330
  27. 20 A News Literacy Curriculum Toolkit 349
  28. 21 Digital Learning and Digital Dilemmas 364
  29. 22 Digital Health Literacy: Improving Health Outcomes 383
  30. 23 Digital Literacy: Necessary but Not Sufficient for Learning 401
  31. Contributors 417
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