INFORMATION SCIENCE AND HEALTH

DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES

Abstract

This paper seeks to analyze the approximations between Information Science (IS) and Health, with a focus on health information and the information needs of its various audiences. It carries out a narrative literature review on the concepts of Information Science, Health and health information, highlighting the interdisciplinarity of Information Science and the complexity of the concept of health, addressing the concepts of health data, medical data and health data, the heterogeneity of the target audience for health information, the sources of information available and the convenience of studies on the information needs of the lay public. The literature review reveals a growing rapprochement between CI and Health, driven by the need to meet the information demands of an increasingly heterogeneous and demanding public. CI, with its methods and tools, can contribute significantly to the organization, retrieval, analysis and dissemination of health information, in order to meet the needs of professionals in the field, researchers, students and the lay public. This work demonstrates the importance of CI for Health, highlighting the crucial role of health information in promoting the health and well-being of the population. Bringing the two areas closer together is essential for developing information solutions that meet the demands of contemporary society, contributing to democratizing access to health information and building a healthier and more informed society.