ASSESSING CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION NEEDS IN A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL

A study was conducted by the Oakwood Hospital Library in Dearborn, Mic higan, to document health information needs and opinions among staff p hysicians and area health consumers. The study sought to discover whic h community sources, besides the hospital library, consumers were cons ulting for health information and how helpful these sources were; what types of health information physicians were providing to patients in their offices; and whether and how physicians and health consumers mig ht differ in their perceptions of health information. Study results, a long with suggested opportunities for additional investigation, are pr esented.