چكيده فارسي :
Background: Few decades ago, health information seekers would have had to refer to books, articles or go to libraries. Now with advent of the Internet and technology they can access their health information needs from home computers or even their smart phones. Although the Internet is a valuable source of information and health applications (apps) are abundant, but how clever information developers are using technology to improve health literacy? Are health and medical mobile apps reliable enough to clients? What is the role of libraries and librarians in addressing issues of accurate health information? This paper aims to address the mentioned questions.
Materials/Patients and Methods: The review of the literature was adopted for this study to suggest integrating mobile health literacy as a new information services in the libraries.
Results: Nowadays, the mobile apps seem to become as an important development in technology for libraries. The new electronic health tools like mobile Apps, allow information seekers to search and find information. But still many users, are not able to diagnose reliable and accurate health Apps. mhealth literacy program is suggested for libraries to help their community in seeking, finding, and understanding health information from electronic sources or devices and apply the knowledge gained to solving their health problem. This literacy program may include, identifying health core apps, discussion on how to evaluate and review health apps and offering best and reliable apps for getting health information. By offering services like these libraries are becoming more integrated into their communities.
Conclusion: With the move toward defining the role of libraries and librarians as facilitators of knowledge creation, now is a great time to bring apps into health literacy training and other library services. The librarians can guide clients in the use of ‘health apps’ by empowering them to be conscious of the pitfalls, direct them to quality sources and ensure they are skilled in evaluating apps.
