The Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) [1] at the Toronto Public Library [2] can help you find reliable, understandable information on complicated health questions. If you or your patrons live in Ontario, CHIS can help answer questions or provide second-tier reference support.

Our most recent project is the CHIS blog [3], which examines a topical health question each week, providing a comprehensive answer by linking to reliable online sources. We started the blog in mid-September and have already covered quite a number of topics [4].

We think our electronic resources (especially our blog [5] and our wiki [6]) can make it easier for you to help your clients find the answers they need. In this column, which we will publish every six weeks, we will look at the health topics that are most on our patrons’ minds and in the news. If you have any suggestions for topics [7] you would like to see covered, drop us a line a chis@torontopubliclibrary.ca [8]: we would be glad to hear from you!

Chronic disease is one of the topics we address regularly: according to a recent report [9], 16 million Canadians live with chronic disease, which causes 60% of hospitalisations and about 80% of visits to a family doctor. In our posts, we have examined the link between diabetes and obesity [10], looked at how breast cancer [11] affects Canadians, and posted about preventing Alzheimer’s disease [12]. We have also looked at some of the more common questions we receive, such as what the difference is between Crohn’s disease, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome [13], and at topics the media addresses regularly, such as childhood obesity [14].

Of course, as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention… Another major focus for our blog is what Canadians can do to stay healthy. Our posts about preventing colds and flus [15] has been very popular and (we hope!) effective. Some of our particular favourites include the stress [16] post, which links to online resources about deep breathing, guided relaxation and imagery, and our recent post about teens and STDs [17], which specifically addresses teenagers and links to some of the excellent prevention-oriented information now available on YouTube.

So, watch this space, send us your questions, suggestions or feedback (chis@torontopubliclibrary.ca [18]), and visit us [19] regularly for reliable health information. Our next post will look at trusted online resources to help you answer your patrons’ health questions.

Donna MacLeod, for the  Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) [20] at the Toronto Public Library [21]