Here is an example of a report I presented during my internship with the South Central AHEC. Project GRACE is the Genomic-based Research Applications for Community Engagement project, created by Nedal Arar of the UT Health Science Center of San Antonio. The Family Health History project is a pilot testing wider application of the program in public libraries.

1. Library Focus Group Meeting
-8/28/12-
Participants
Librarians from the
Cortez, Mission, Central, Memorial, and Guerra
libraries of San Antonio
Moderator
Paula Winkler
_____________________________________________________________
Report by: Kristen Hanich, Intern Project Coordinator
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2. Goals of Project GRACE and the Family
Health History Project
• To increase awareness of Family Health Histories
and their role in medicine
• To entice participants to create a three-
generation family pedigree detailing their and
their families’ health status
• To encourage participants to share their Family
Health History with their relatives and primary
care provider
• To collect data that can be used in the creation of
additional projects
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3. Hopes and expectations for the focus group
• Discover potential problems and
opportunities
• Determine if language barriers
exist, and if so, to what extent
• Discover what level of familiarity
librarians have with health
research, particularly MedlinePlus
• Discover if patrons and librarians are
familiar with the Surgeon General’s
family health history tool.
• Evaluate level of librarian training in
health research and privacy
• Determine the existing library health
resources, and the degree of public
awareness of these resources.
• Uncover potential ways to market the
program
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4. What we learned about the Family
Health History Project
• Librarians are mostly asked general questions about topics and book locations
• Most questions are asked in English, a small percentage in Spanish
• Spanish-speakers tend to want their health information in Spanish
• Paper resources are more popular than electronic ones
• The cost of printing is a potential deterrent to patrons
• Many patrons do not voice concerns about privacy
• Most libraries receive health questions weekly; one receives questions daily
• Middle-aged to older women are most likely to ask health questions, followed
by baby boomers, pregnant young women, and students working on projects
• Most health questions are about diabetes, heart disease, diet, pregnancy, and
cancer. Some are about mental health.
• All librarians reported having searched for health information online for
themselves and their families, and that this was useful while helping patrons.
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5. What we learned about the Family
Health History Project, cont’d
• The librarians have not received formal training on health research or privacy
• None of the librarians had received any questions about family health histories
• Most librarians consider MedlinePlus the first place to go for simple answers
or up-to-date information
• Libraries are a health resource, but the public isn’t fully aware of this
• Librarians feel that their role is to promote health literacy among their patrons
• The Health Stations were considered an example of an underutilized resource
• LibGuides are rarely used by patrons, but some librarians use them as a way to
identify good references
• Free newspapers and school handouts have been a good way to advertise
• Successful library programs engage all generations
• Proper timing of promotional events is key, and this timing might vary
• Time of day is a factor when patrons are seeking librarian assistance
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6. What we want to see incorporated
into the Family Health History Project
• Train the librarians in how to research health, and brief them on
what tools are available
• Train the librarians on health privacy and relevant HIPPA laws
• Bring bilingual librarians into the project
• Promotional program material in English and Spanish, targeting
middle-aged women
• Free printing for program materials
• Promotional events: advertise project to already existing library
groups, October as Family History Month (2013)
• Bring in schools and teachers
• Communicate with doctors
• Require that patrons fill out a pre- and post- test
before getting their gift card
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7. What we want to see incorporated
Train Librarians Create Promos Stakeholders Implementing Evaluating
Research health, Promotional Bring in the Free printing for Pre- and post-
health tools material in English schools and pedigrees and testing for
and Spanish teachers health sheets librarians
undergoing
training
Health privacy Target middle- See if the schools Chose event Track the
and HIPPA aged women will allow promos times that allow participation of
for maximum schools and
participation doctors
Bring in bilinguals In-library posters See if teachers Make use of Incorporate pre-
want to include already existing and post- tests
the Family Health groups in into the process
History project in advertising the of getting an HEB
their curriculum program gift card
Mass-emailing Bring in doctors
Flyers for Explain program
newspapers, scho and see if we can
ol handouts work together 7

8. What steps we can take to get this
project running
• Identify bilingual librarians and
incorporate them into project
• Have librarians create own family
health history and research relevant
conditions on MedlinePlus
• Make sure bilingual librarians are
prepared to answer questions about
the program in Spanish.
• Identify library groups that may be
interested in the project
• Develop bilingual promotional
materials
• Contact area schools and doctors
• Find a source of funding for the
printing costs
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9. Addressing GRACE’s Goals
• To increase awareness of the Family Health History
– Family Health Histories do not appear to be a topic of interest within the libraries.
The program must create interest and awareness of this within the community in
order to succeed. Promoting October as Family History Month is one option.
• To entice participants to create a three-generation family pedigree
– Promotional materials, social marketing, and gift card incentives will all be used in
order to entice participants.
• To encourage participants to share their Family Health History with their
relatives and primary care provider
– Sharing the Family Health History with the primary care provider might not be a
practical solution. Push-back is expected from physicians. To minimize this, area
physicians will be contacted with information on the program and how it may be
useful to them. Additionally, MedlinePlus has been incorporated into the project
as a means for participants to manage their own health.
• To collect data that can be used in the creation of additional projects
– Pre- and post- tests will be administered to librarians undergoing to curriculum.
Pre- and post- tests will be administered to participants seeking to receive a gift
card.
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