Evidence Review: what does good health information look like? Paul Treadgold and Carol Grant

http://www.pifonline.org.uk/what-does-good-health-information-look-like-an-evidence-review/

‘This research report summarises the best evidence available – from both research and practice – on what approaches areare most effective in ensuring the accuracy, readability, relevance and impact of consumer health information.

The growing recognition of information as the lifeblood of quality health services is reflected in legislation, the NHS Constitution and the NHS Patient Experience Framework.

However, despite the right to information, and clear evidence of the benefits, problems relating to poor communications and inadequate information have been one of the most common causes of complaints and patient dissatisfaction in the health service.

The biggest issue is not necessarily one of quantity – quality is paramount. How accessible, timely, readable, reeliable and useful is the information provided? What does high quality health information really look like?

We found a mixture of evidence (based on primary research and systematic reviews) and good practice guidelines and quality checklists developed by official bodies and special interest groups. In particular, we have highlighted the Information Standard, the DISCERN criteria for assessing the quality of publications about treatment choices, and criteria from the Picker Institute’s revisions to the checklist produced by IPDAS – the International Patient Decision Aid Standards Collaboration.

In some areas, for example on communicating risk, there is quite an extensive evidence base. In others, for example on revealing uncertainty or avoiding bias, there is more of an ethical (and legal) base for best practice’

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