Barnett-Briggs Medical Library

The Barnett-Briggs Medical Library is teaming up with the Family Health Center, the Center for Vulnerable Populations, and other SFGH outpatient clinics to teach basic computer and Internet searching skills to diabetic patients. The idea for the project, “Digital Empowerment for Diabetic Patients”, is based on research which links lower literacy levels to poorer health outcomes. It targets patients who are currently digitally disconnected and aims to improve their ability to find accurate, up-to-date, authoritative health information to enable them take better care of themselves and their families.

Separate classes will be taught in Spanish and English and will include 3 weekly two-hour sessions. The first series of classes in Spanish begin July 5, 2012 and will be taught by Family Health Center Health Coach Chris Chirinos. Classes in English will be taught by librarian John Piche and will begin July 6, 2012. All classes will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in SFGH’s Barnett-Briggs Medical Library computer lab located in Building 30 on the SFGH campus.

To be eligible for the free classes, participants must be diabetic, able to read and write either English or Spanish, and be 18 years of age or older. Spanish-speakers may register by calling the Family Health Center at 415-206-6928 or 415-206-6071. English-speakers may register by calling the Library at 415-206-3114. Online registration for classes may be found at http://sfghlibrary.ucsf.edu/classes.

The curriculum is based on the National Institute on Aging’s Senior Health Toolkit for Trainers, which was adapted for use with diabetic patients by SFGH Librarian Joy Graham with funds from a grant from the National Library of Medicine under contract with the UCLA Biomedical Library.   The curriculum includes instruction in basic computer and Internet search concepts, an introduction to MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s consumer health information portal, and a module on evaluating health information on the web.