NON LIBRARIAN QUESTIONS When you look for health information, looking for general preventative health information? do you search for specific symptoms? are you looking for a professional to diagnose? You have a health question, where do you go for answers? Is this source adequate? Tell me some of the strengths and weaknesses? What sources, e.g. web, doctors, nurses, do you trust the most? Why? When would you use one source over another? Where do you perform your searches? Home? Work? Library? How important is the credentials of the source? How do you separate authoritative from non-authoritative sources? How do you judge credentials? What types of information would you search for before seeing a doctor? Did you bring that information to the doctor? With questions ready? With paper printouts? (why not?) What did the doctor do with the information or questions you provided? After a doctors visit, do you have questions? Where do you go for answers? (local health questions) Do you ever use local clinics are free health services, e.g. hotlines? How would you find a health service provider? What are your criteria for choosing a health service provider? Are you comfortable with this method? What are some of the shortcomings or benefits of this method? Do you search for information about your current provider or referred providers? Anything in particular that keeps you going to the same doctor? how often do you go to any library? how often do you use research websites? forums and chat rooms? Do comments/forums attached to articles help? do you prefer a heterogeneity of health topics or a more focused resource? What makes a website "sketchy"? Do you check citations? That they're there? That they're quality? Do you follow citations to more articles? LIBRARIAN QUESTIONS What are the most popular health information services patrons look for? e.g. clinical trials, clinics, doctors, dentists, support groups, hospitals Are there any outside health resources that you refer patients to? hotlines? clinics? What are the most common information seeking methods patrons use to gather health information? What makes health information "trustworthy"? Do you spend a lot of time helping patrons with health related questions? Do patrons use your health related databases? Why or why not? Are there specific health related databases you would recommend to patrons above other databases? How does your library currently share information about local health resources with your patrons? Are you, or would you, explore formal partnerships with local health resources (clinics, hospitals, practitioners, etc.) How does your library currently share information about the health information you provide? Do you advertise your health resources to the public? What is the general computer literacy level of your patrons? Is it changing? Are there any patterns in the types of health related questions that you receive? e.g. diagnosed with X, what next? where can I find a doctor? what should I ask my doctor? If cost and practicality are not a factor, are there specific additional authoritative health-related research material? Do you have any other suggestions for making an interface for patrons and librarians to search health information.