Latviešu medicīnas attīstībā rakstītam vārdam vēsturiski ir ļoti liela nozīme. Pirmkārt, tas ir tālab, lai saglabātu pilnvērtīgu un labskanīgu profesionālo medicīnas valodu ar latviešu terminiem un internacionālu, uz pierādījumiem balstītu medicīnisku domāšanu. Otrkārt, dzimtajā valodā cilvēkam jebkuru mācību vielu ir vienkāršāk apgūt, bet latviešiem laikmetu griežos vairākkārt nācies mainīt prioritāro svešvalodu atkarībā no politiskās konjunktūras-prioritāra bijusi vācu, krievu vai angļu valoda, bet cilvēkiem gados, kā zināms, jaunu valodu profesionālā līmenī apgūt nav viegli. Tālab latviešu valodai medicīnas apmācībā un mūžizglītībā īpaša nozīme bija 20. gs. 50. un 90. gados, kad ienāca literatūra citā svešvalodā. Treškārt, nacionālas medicīnas grāmatas ir nozīmīgs nācijas izdzīvošanas un attīstības rādītājs, gluži kā nacionālā mūzika vai nacionālais teātris.
Background : This paper outlines developments in medical information in Latvia since independence from the former USSR in 1991, and analyses the health information gap faced by professionals. Objectives : To explore international initiatives and co-operation in health information provision in Latvia; to describe the activities of Latvian medical librarians at national, regional and international level; to look at health information provision by specialist information centres; and to discuss the role of librarians in health information provision in public libraries. Methods : An extensive search was made of databases and medical library and health information centre staff were interviewed; a questionnaire survey of librarians was carried out. Results : International initiatives and co-operation by medical librarians have extended their services at national, regional and international level. Health information portals exist, with online contacts and links to smaller health centres and organizations, but rarely employ qualified librarians or information professionals. Ninety-three per cent of public librarians had provided health information, with 79% using the Internet. The most popular sources of health information were magazines, books, local pharmacies and the Internet, but mostly for healthy lifestyle, not medical problems.Conclusions : E-health and medical informatics are high government priorities. Medical librarians are actively involved in these initiatives.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.