Challenges in Providing Health Information Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Academic medical libraries in China played a vital role in providing health information services during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they faced significant challenges in accessing and disseminating accurate health information to the public and healthcare professionals. These challenges were exacerbated by the limited integration of health information resources, inadequate customisation of health information resources, and insufficient cooperation among libraries and healthcare institutions. Despite these challenges, research suggests that with the improvement of health information services, academic medical libraries can better provide health information to support healthcare decision-making and promote public health.

Key Takeaways:

• Academic medical libraries in China faced significant challenges in providing health information services during the COVID-19 pandemic, including insufficient integration of health information resources and inadequate customisation of health information resources.
• A survey of 15 top medical universities in China revealed that academic medical libraries provided health information services for four aspects: health information resources, access, service, and management.
• The research identified several weaknesses in health information services, including inadequate cooperation among libraries and healthcare institutions, lack of systematic health information literacy education, and lack of professional departments with health librarians.
• Improving health information services by strengthening the integration and optimisation of health information resources, enhancing cooperation, strengthening systematic health information literacy education, and building health information departments with professional health librarians can better support healthcare decision-making and promote public health.
• Yuan Meng, Rui Guan, and Li Dong, researchers at the Chengdu University of Technology, led the study and published their findings in the Health Information & Libraries Journal.

Statistics:

• A total of 15 top medical universities in China were surveyed to assess their health information services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The survey revealed that academic medical libraries provided health information services for four aspects: health information resources (81%), access (93%), service (85%), and management (88%).
• Additional authors for this research include Yuan Meng, Rui Guan, and Li Dong.

Sources:

• NewsRx. Chengdu University of Technology Reports Findings in COVID-19 (Health information services of academic medical libraries in China during the pandemic era). Education Letter. May 14, 2025; p 2.
• Health Information & Libraries Journal, 2025. Health Information & Libraries Journal can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.