Ana Maria: Instrument to capture librarians' perception about information products and services with focus on individuals with Down Syndrome

10.30207/AHLA.202312.0018

Maria Cristiane Barbosa Galvão；Luciana de Souza Gracioso；Paula Maria Pereira Merichelo

down syndrome ； informational products ； information services ； librarians ； libraries ； perception ； research

The Proceeding of the 9th AHLA International Health Literacy Conference: Health Literacy and Social Resilience

2023（2023 / 12 / 01）

19 - 19

英文

Background: Down Syndrome has a high incidence in the world. However, analyzing the literature, there are isolated initiatives on informational products and services focused on population with this condition. Thus, we observed the need to develop an instrument to be applied more broadly to professional librarians from different places about their perception on informational products and services focused on people with Down Syndrome. Objective: Develop an instrument for mixed methods research, including quantitative and qualitative questions, to understand the perception of librarians about services and informational products focused on people with Down Syndrome. Methods: Based on gaps found in a literature review, a researcher who works in the field of information science applied to health created an instrument with 19 questions. Then, this questionnaire was analysed, revised and improved, consensually, by another researcher in the field of information science, with knowledge in Down Syndrome. Private nature questions were removed from the questionnaire, to facilitate instrument application without harming the librarians' data protection and privacy. After corrections were made, five librarians answered the instrument for initial validation. Result: The instrument current version, named "Ana Maria - v.1", contains 18 questions, two of which are qualitative, dealing with: education and knowledge obtained by the librarian in the undergraduate course on Down Syndrome; desire to have additional knowledge and develop products and services for people with Down Syndrome; informational services and products developed by the librarian and the institution where he/she works; librarians' perceptions of informational products and services focusing on people with Down Syndrome in the national context. Conclusion: Having a standardized instrument on informational products and services focused on people with Down Syndrome can generate scientific evidence that will help to establish public and institutional policies, as well as a more adequate librarians' education.