Accessibility and usability

Introduction

Accessibility and usability can mean different things to people and overlap with other themes discussed on this site. For the purpose of this theme, we define the terms like this:

Accessibility - can your audience access the information system?

• Is it delivered in the right medium and in the right format? For example person to person, audio, visual, braille and pictoral information.
• If it's web-based information does it use standardised data formatting, metadata and the appropriate coding methods?
• Also, don't forget the specific requirements of your audience. For example, remember those with disabilities, and produce information in languages other than English and making it culturally accurate and sensitive.

Usability - once they're in, can you audience answer their questions quickly and easily?

• Is your information designed and structured in such a way that the user can get what they want from it? (See also Design of health information.)
• Is it produced in a clear and consistent format?
• Does your web site make it easy to browse and search to find answers?
• Is your site engaging and user-friendly?
• Where and how information is disseminated (see Producing and disseminating health information)

Accessibility of information, regardless of the medium you are using, is a vital component of any patient information strategy. There is little point in producing a piece of information which meets all other quality standards but which your audience cannot read, understand, interpret or apply to themselves and their circumstances.

This theme will cover the practical aspects of planning and producing patient information that is both accessible and usable as well as the legal requirements that that govern these issues.

Page last edited: 10 February 2011