Evaluation of a Public Library Workshop: Teaching Older Adults How to Search the Internet for Reliable Cancer Information

Individuals aged 55 and older represent the fastest-growing Internet user group. They are also at higher risk for cancer. Consumer health librarians can teach seniors effective Internet search strategies to access accurate and reliable cancer information. Four Internet workshops were conducted at the Kitchener Public Library with 44 community-dwelling older adults aged 50 to 75. Participants learned how to search the Internet for cancer information using search engines, medical directories, and subject starters. Results of post-workshop questionnaires showed that over 80% of seniors felt comfortable searching independently for Web-based cancer information after the workshop. Searching difficulty decreased from 5.2 pre-workshop to 4.3 post-workshop (1 = very easy; 10 = very difficult). Self-rated understanding (1 = poor understanding; 5 = excellent understanding) of the Internet was also higher post-workshop (3.9/5) compared to pre-workshop (2.4/5). Seventy percent of participants indicated that they would definitely turn to the Internet for cancer information in the future. The library workshops were effective in teaching Internet search skills to older adults. Librarians and health information providers should guide seniors' use of the Internet so they are able to access high quality cancer Web sites. (C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.