The BMA Patient Information Awards 2011
On 14 September 2011 the British Medical Association held the awards event for the BMA Patient Information Awards. In 2011 the awards were reviewed and updated, and a group of PiF members took part in the work. This involved reviewing the awards categories, looking at the mandatory and judging criteria and developing guidelines for applicants and reviewers. The BMA awards in many ways set the standard for excellence in producing information resources.
As a result of the review process the awards categories were changed for 2011. New categories are information that supports self care, information that aids decision making, information that supports self management and finally an award for innovation.
This year we contacted all the winners and those who received highly commended awards and asked them to complete a form which explains how their resource was planned, developed, produced and evaluated. These are included here, with a summary of the resource and a link to it where possible.
BMA Patient Information Award Resource of the Year 2011
Diabetes Day to Day
Resonant Media
The 2011 BMA Patient Information Resource of the Year was awarded to Resonant Media for Diabetes Day to Day. Initially developed with NHS Tower Hamlets, a bespoke version was launched for NHS Swindon in 2010 and a version for NHS Wandsworth has also been commissioned. Its reviewer commented: “This is a great resource for people with diabetes. It's well-laid-out, with clear and relevant information. The use of quizzes, goal-setting tools, case studies and top tips makes the information booklet readable and interactive. It involves the reader and uses real life examples to illustrate the facts. The DVD that accompanies the booklet includes video case studies and information, using a mix of clinical and patient experience, for English, Somali and Bengali speakers, which means it’s culturally appropriate and relevant for the audiences it’s aimed at.”
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
BMA Patient Information Award Resource of the Year Runner Up 2011
Managing Symptoms at Home: Palliative Care Information for Families, Children's Cancer & Leukaemia Group (CCLG)
For the first time, a runner up BMA Patient Information Resource of the Year was made to Managing Symptoms at Home: Palliative Care Information for Families by the Children's Cancer & Leukaemia Group (CCLG) with the sponsorship of the Adam Rogers Trust. Lynne Kitson, Macmillan Patient Information Manager at the 3 Counties Cancer Network in Gloucestershire, commented that this is “a beautifully presented booklet, well-set-out with good use of colour tabs for each section. The content covers clearly a wide range of symptoms that parents may expect to see in their child and how to deal with them with clear, practical advice. The booklet also includes relaxation techniques and imagery written for children…” The judges were particularly impressed by the extensive consultation process and the high production values of this beautifully produced resource which is very easy-to-use with coloured tabs for each section. The judging panel thought that the tone was pitched at the right level for parents, containing much practical advice, but also covering less obvious ground such as relaxation techniques and imagery that can be used with children.
Click here to download the resource
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
BMA Patient Information Award Winner: Innovation
Same again animation
NHS Walsall Community Health
This award was made to Same Again? by the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. The Animation and accompanying resources give tips to young people on how to improve their night out by changing their drinking habits. Its reviewer, Wayne Middleton, commented: “What a great entry from NHS Walsall: very imaginative and engaging. The video was short and punchy, delivering a clear message.” The judges were impressed by its extensive consultation process: users were identified by visiting local licensed premises and speaking with customers. Innovative dissemination routes were explored: the animation was given to bars in Walsall, and supporting campaign leaflets and beer mats were also distributed. Its very “imaginative and engaging” mix of music and visual images won it the special award for innovation.
Click here to view the animation (on YouTube)
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
BMA Patient Information Award Winner: Self-Care
My Asthma
Asthma UK
This award was won by Asthma UK for My Asthma. This resource is aimed at children with asthma aged 6-11 years and aims to encourage them to manage their condition. It’s an interactive self-management tool designed for children to use at point of diagnosis. It consists of several different materials: My Asthma Plan which lists all the medicines the child is prescribed; My Asthma Calendar and stickers; and My Child’s Asthma Medicines Postcard. The judges considered that this collection of resources would be very appealing to young children who would interact with the resources and be empowered to take control of their condition. The judges noted Asthma UK’s extensive consultation process with their own nurse specialists, other healthcare professionals and children. A two stage process gained feedback from parents, children, health professionals as well as the pilot sites. The high quality of the design and images used stood out for the judges who thought that this collection of resources would be very appealing to young children, who would interact with the resources and be empowered to take control of their condition.
Click here to find out more and to order a copy of the resource
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
BMA Patient Information Award (Information that Aids Decision Making)
Get the Right Treatment
Resonant Media and NHS East London and the City
This award was made to Resonant Media and NHS East London and the City for Get the Right Treatment. This is aimed at residents in Tower Hamlets, London, who were shown to be disproportionately using A&E services. The leaflet highlights the range and locations of health services in the area and informs local residents where they should go to receive the right treatment in a range of circumstances. The judges chose this for the decision making aid award because of the clear way in which this resource was targeted at users of A&E services. They were impressed by the contents of the pack which includes a map of specialist services and walk-in centres as well as guidance on what health symptoms can be treated at pharmacies, walk-in centres or GP practices. They thought that the design of the poster and pack was very clear (using graphics, images and colour to very good effect) and that it would appeal to the many different users who would find it easy to use without being patronising.
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Highly Commended Resources
Alcohol Following Brain Injury
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust
This booklet is aimed at people who have has a brain injury. It uses pictures and short simple sentences to put information across. Each topic are also includes information about what the reader can do about each problem they may face.
"This is a very nice booklet which has used a full consultation exercise to good effect" BMA Reviewer
Click here to download a copy of the booklet
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Caring for Someone with a Brain Injury
Headway — the brain injury association
"This is an excellent leaflet. It is very well designed, comprehensive in coverage and very clearly set out. The language is appropriate and user friendly without being patronising. It has many examples of case studies. It's very approachable and readable and I feel sure it would benefit anyone finding themselves in this situation." BMA Awards Reviewer
Click here to go to a copy of the leaflet
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Emily's ICD Paediatric Booklet
Arrhythmia Alliance, The Heart Rhythm Charity
This is a booklet aimed at children, explaining what an implantable cardioverter defibrillator is and what happens during and after surgery to have one put in.
The booklet includes a wordsearch, pictures and explains medical words.
Click here to download a copy of the booklet
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Epilepsy: How I Feel
National Society for Epilepsy (now Epilepsy Society)
"Brilliant. I tried not to be seduced by the slick presentation, but gave in and enjoyed not only the clarity, but the look and feel of the booklet. The stickers are a great idea that will help people respond practically to identifying their needs. It has an excellent layout and structure." BMA Awards Reviewer
Click here to see a copy of the resource and order it.
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Fit for Farming
Men's Health Forum
Fit for Farming, one of the health booklets in the style of Haynes car manuals produced by the Forum, was written for male farmers in Yorkshire. Funded by the Department of Health Yorkshire and Humber Regional Public Health and Social Care Group, it is also backed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and the Yorkshire Rural Support Network. The booklet was developed following discussions with groups of Yorkshire farmers to make sure that it covered the issues they are most concerned about.
'This is the best of the reosurces I had to review by a long way. Design, illustrations and text are all appropriate to a very specific target group. Distribution appears successful. It has an interesting way of describing conditions, eg 'imagine the prostate as a rubber washer around a bit of tubing'. BMA awards reviewer
Click here to find out more about mini-manuals
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was produced
Guide for Patients having Cyberknife Treatment for Lung Cancer at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre
"This simple leaflet covers the essential facts about this process giving useful information and taking the patient through the different stages. It includes a picture of the Cyberknife and has a section for essential contacts and patient notes. The style is straight-forward and easy to follow. Critical information on consent and fathering children is placed at the start of the leaflet." BMA awards reviewer
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Health at Work website
British Heart Foundation
"There is much to praise about this attractively constructed web site. It's well designed and very user-friendly, is easy to navigate around and has excellent content which would prove inspiring and motivating to both employers and employees. It fulfils the objective of providing quick accessible and easily digestible information in order to encourage employers to deliver healthy initiatives in the workplace. Overall, the site is well constructed and has undergone extensive input from professionals and users in order to deliver the specific needs of the user." BMA Award Reviewer.
Click here to go to the web site.
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
HIV and your quality of life: a guide to side-effects and other complications
HIV i-base
"This is a really nice, clear and comprehensive booklet, well thought out, well written and very reassuring. I like the contact details at the top of each page and the opportunity to submit questions by email or online." BMA Award Reviewer
Click here to see a copy of the resource
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
iBreastCheck App
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
iBreastCheck is the UK’s first app designed to encourage women to be more breast aware. It aims to improve understanding of the signs and symptoms to look out for, build awareness of the risk factors associated with the disease (and what women can do to reduce them) and importantly provide a practical reminder service. The BMA award reviewer said of this resource "The overall production of this free App is of very high quality. The images and illustrations are clear and memorable and the videos are of excellent quality. The main video is easy to follow, a practical guide which aims to encourage women to check their breasts regularly. It has several interactive features such as a reminder to carry out your own breast check, a risk quiz and personal report."
Click here to go to the web site, where you can download the app
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Let's talk about you
Macmillan Cancer Support
Let's talk about you is a guide for young people between 12 and 18 years of age who are caring for someone with cancer. "Let's talk about you is an outstanding publication. It's clear that the development of this handbook for young people has been truly user led and I imagine it's not only an invaluable source of information but almost a companion for young people going through a difficult time. Every aspect of this publication seems 'spot on' from the friendly langauage style to the choice of images and informative content. It's hard to imagine how it could be improved!" BMA Awards Reviewer
Click here to see a copy of the resource
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed
Parkinson's and You
Parkinson's UK
"Overall this is an excellent booklet: easy to read and easy to follow with a wealth of useful information for the user. The writers have gone beyond the call of duty to include some of the things that matter to people over and baove the standard inofrmation that is usually included in this type of publication. Very well designed, bright and colourful." BMA Awards reviewer.
Click here to see a copy of the resource
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Secondary Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Care
"This booklet is aimed at people who have had a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer and targets the physical and emotional impact it can have on sufferers, family and friends. There is excellent information and discussion on feelings and reactions to diagnosis and excellent use of personal experiences. The clear structure is easily discernible and I love the comments from women." BMA Awards Reviewer.
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Sleeping Problems - A self help guide
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
"This booklet was a good introduction to sleep problems, providing digestible information aimed at helping people to understand their problems with sleep. It clearly outlines common sleep problems and identifies the groups of people who are more likely to be affected, dispelling common myths. The layout of the booklet is clear, starting with the facts about sleep, discussing problems and providing possible solutions. The different tasks and the focus on different methods of thinking help the reader to be self reflective and help to dispel the negative connotations they may have regarding their sleep problems." BMA Reviewer
Click here to see a copy of the booklet
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Understanding Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK
"I was rather daunted by the size of this 'booklet' but it's very readable, explains everything well and includes summaries of relevant clinical trials. Its thoroughness leads to its size. It has a glossary, information about the organisation and plenty of pointers to other information. There is a good contents page the layout is clear and the type large." BMA Award Reviewer
Click here to see and order a copy of the resource.
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Work and MS — for Employees and Employers
MS Society
"It's extremely well written, accessible and is very easy to navigate (I liked the use of icons to indicate looking at the toolkit and where to look for further information). The information is well balanced, this is of particular praise considering it contains information for both employees and employers. It's practical and and includes useful tools in the toolkit, such as diaries for time off sick, working hours records sheets and personal contacts list." BMA awards reviewer
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
www.healthtalkonline.org/Later_life/Menopause (Experiences of the menopause)
DIPEx
"This is an outstanding information resource. The site speaks directly to its target audience in a clear ways. Its easy to explore and navigate. Site users are able to hear the perspective of the health professionals as well as the individuals coping with the menopause. There is a breadth of patient experiences gathered together on this one site which is so important when trying to speak to as many people as possible." BMA awards reviewer
Click here to download a case study detailing how the resource was developed.
Page last edited: 06 December 2011
