- Accessibility and usability
- Design of health information
- Education and training
- Establishing and running information services
- Evaluating the quality of health information
- Health literacy
- Medicines information
- Patient and public involvement
- Producing/ disseminating health information
- Sourcing health information
- Using electronic media
Producing and disseminating health information
Introduction
Patients and carers need to have the right information at the right time in their patient journey. The Kennedy Report ‘Learning from Bristol’ (July 2001), details the need for information to enable patients to make informed decisions about their own care.
Good patient information is important as it can:
- Give patients confidence, which empowers them to become equal partners with healthcare professionals in making decisions
- Act as a reminder to a patient of what they were told at a consultation when they were possibly under stress and didn’t fully understand the terminology being used
- Reduce communication problems between healthcare professionals and patients
- Improve a patient's ability to look after themselves after a test, operation or procedure and increase the likelihood of compliance with ongoing treatment
By involving patients and carers in the diagnosis and treatment of their condition, the overall experience is improved and can reduce patient anxiety.
Patients and carers need to have the right information at the right time in their patient journey.
There is a wealth of health information available ranging in quality. This theme is about helping you to plan the production of the highest quality information resources and ensure that these reach the right people in the most appropriate places.
If you would like to comment or contribute to this section of the site please contact Hazel Hardyman, Producing and Disseminating Health Information theme lead.
Page last edited: 10 March 2008
