Assessing the National Library of Medicine's Informationist Awards.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the experience of the informationist recipients of NLM-funded Administrative Supplements for Informationist Services and gather evidence for their impact on NIH-funded biomedical research. METHODS: A mixed methods approach consisting of a survey of principal investigators and a focus group of informationists. RESULTS: Informationists appeared to have a positive impact on their team's research, especially in the areas of data storage, data management planning, data organization, and literature searching. In addition, many informationists felt that their involvement had increased their research skills and made them true research partners. Assessing their own impact was a challenge for the award recipients, and questions remain about the best evaluation methods. The overall experience of the informationists and researchers was mixed but largely positive. CONCLUSION: The NLM-funded informationist supplement award appears to be a successful mechanism for immersing informationists into research teams and improving data management in the supported projects.

Internet delivered behavioral obesity treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of an Internet behavioral weight loss program; and determine if adding periodic in-person sessions to an Internet intervention improves outcomes. METHODS: 481 healthy overweight adults (28% minority) were randomized to one of 3 delivery methods of a behavioral weight loss program with weekly meetings: Internet (n=161), InPerson (n=158), or Hybrid (Internet+InPerson, n=162). Outcome variables were weight at baseline and 6 months and percent of subjects achieving a 5 and 7% weight loss. The study took place in two centers in Vermont and Arkansas from 2003 to 2008. RESULTS: Conditions differed significantly in mean weight loss [8.0 (6.1) kg vs. 5.5 (5.6) kg vs. 6.0 (5.5) kg], for InPerson, Internet, and Hybrid respectively, p<0.01, n=462). Weight loss for InPerson was significantly greater than the Internet and Hybrid conditions (p<0.05). Although the proportion reaching a 5% weight loss did not differ, the proportion losing 7% did differ significantly (56.3% vs. 37.3% vs. 44.4% for InPerson, Internet, and Hybrid respectively, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the Internet is a viable alternative to in-person treatment for the delivery and dissemination of a behavioral weight-control intervention. The addition of periodic in-person sessions did not improve outcomes.

Predictors of assistive technology use: the importance of personal and psychosocial factors.

OBJECTIVE: To validate an assistive technology (AT) baseline and outcomes measure and to quantify the measure's value in determining the best match of consumer and AT considering consumer ratings of their subjective quality of life, mood, support from others, motivation for AT use, program/therapist reliance, and self-determination/self-esteem. DESIGN: Prospective multi-cohort study. SETTING: Vocational rehabilitation offices and community. PARTICIPANTS: Over 150 vocational rehabilitation counselors in 25 U.S. states with one consumer each receiving new AT. INTERVENTIONS: Counselor training in the Matching Person and Technology (MPT) Model and consumer completion of the MPT measure, Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total and subscale scores on the ATD PA as well as counselor-completed questionnaires. RESULTS: ATD PA items differentiated consumer predispositions to AT use as well as AT and user match. There were no significant differences due to gender, physical locality, or age within this sample of working-age adult consumers. Vocational rehabilitation counselors exposed to training in the MPT Model achieved enhanced AT service delivery outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The ATD PA is a valid measure of predisposition to use an AT and the subsequent match of AT and user. Rehabilitation practitioners who use the ATD PA will achieve evidence-based practice and can expect to see enhanced AT service delivery outcomes.

Consumer health information on the Web: trends, issues, and strategies.

Medical-surgical nurses are at the forefront of the current trends in patient information and choice in medical care. The trends in health information access and quality, and decision support strategies are reviewed. Valuable online resources for nurses to share with their patients and families will be presented and applied using a case study. Elder health is used to illustrate these issues.

Consumer health information on the Web: trends, issues, and strategies.

Nurses are at the forefront of the current trends in patient information and choice in medical care. The trends in health information access and quality, and decision support strategies are reviewed. Valuable online resources for nurses to share with their patients and families will be presented. Elder health is used to illustrate these issues.