title: Survey of the attitude of medical and nursing libraries to information literature for patients with gastrointestinal diseases.
abstract: Senior staff in libraries at 281 medical schools, postgraduate institutions, schools of nursing and postgraduate medical centres were approached. They were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on the availability of patient-orientated information and the nature of access by other health care professionals, patients and the public to their facilities. A total of 252 replies was received (response rate 90%). Medical and nursing schools tended to discriminate against each other's staff. Discrimination against patients was more widespread with less than 30% of libraries open to them. This was reflected in the lack of patient information such as booklets and videos. Less than 10% of libraries provided such information. Libraries in schools of nursing were significantly better in the provision of information about self-help groups. Overall there were limited interest in the provision of any service to patients or the general public.
authors.affiliation: Leicester General Hospital.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mayberry
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mayberry
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003625:Data Collection; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases; D006801:Humans; D016245:Librarians / Q000523:psychology*; D007993:Libraries, Medical; D007994:Libraries, Nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom