Facilitating Access to English and French Patient Education Materials Through the Creation of a Database and Search Interface for Patients and Health Professionals

The Infothèque Health Education Collection is an Internet database with a bilingual search interface that addresses the search and language abilities of health professionals and patients alike and that facilitates access to the patient education materials used by the six hospital sites of the McGill University Health Centre. To best serve the targeted users, the project librarian debated metadata and controlled vocabulary options, and researched interface designs. The librarian also conducted a usability study and used the results to refine the interface. The project drew on the expertise of a diverse group of librarians, doctors, and nurses and was successful in improving access to materials.