Getting to first base: exploring evidence based sexual healthHow does a library work together with a telephone information and referral service to provide up to date evidence based information to health professionals and the general community?FPA Health (formerly Family Planning NSW) runs a confidential information and referral telephone service providing information on a wide range of sexual health topics. This service, FPA Healthline, is staffed by clinical nurse specialists who answer client’s questions via telephone or email. The librarian is a very important part of the question answering process, providing current, relevant and timely medical and nursing research for FPA Healthline nurses, which is used in conjunction with the sexual health expertise of the organisation to answer questions at hand and to create new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the website. A case study will be explored using the example of recent discussion in the medical press about the possible effect of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo Provera) on bone density. This study will be used to illustrate ways in which a small organisation providing a unique service in NSW, can manage resources, knowledge and information in order to provide an evidence based information service that aims to be instrumental in improving the reproductive and sexual health of the people of NSW.
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