- 7Jun
National health charities join information prescribing pilot in Nottinghamshire
An information prescribing pilot project allowing healthcare professionals to send patients direct links to resources from some of the country’s leading health charities gets underway in Nottinghamshire in June. RECAP Health is a digital product resulting from a partnership between Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Health2Works. The Patient Information Forum (PIF) has joined the…
- 5Apr
Vaccines: information is key
This article is from European Patients Forum EPF: In his State of the European Union address on 13 September 2017, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker identified equal access to vaccines as a specific priority. Patients with chronic diseases are often at high-risk of complications from diseases for which vaccines exist. Even though specific vaccination recommendations often…
- 15Mar
Study: Understanding the role of health information in patients’ experiences
Understanding the role of health information in patients’ experiences: secondary analysis of qualitative narrative interviews with people diagnosed with cancer in Germany The objective of this paper in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open was to analyse the role and meaning of health information in individuals’ experiences with either breast, colorectal or prostate cancer in…
- 12Oct
Blog: Improving patient information
In this blog, published in the BMJ, Michael Gill explores how patients have a right to be provided with information, to be given time to ask questions, and to have direct access to their medical records. Michael suggests that in this era of technological innovation, there are many ways in which clinicians can communicate more effectively. For example: Writing instructions…
- 27Jul
Evaluating patient information leaflets given during a consultation
The Health Expectations Journal has published a systematic review of literature reviews aimed at improving the quality of patient information leaflets (PILS), how to use them during consultations and methods for evaluating them. The article draws general and condition-linked conclusions concerning the impact of PILs. Checklists summarize criteria for quality PILs, and ways of using…
- 8Jun
Identifying preferred format and source of exercise information in persons with multiple sclerosis that can be delivered by health-care providers
The aim of this study, published by Wiley Online Library in Health Expectations, was to seek to identify the desired and preferred format and source of exercise information for persons with MS that can be delivered through health-care providers. There is increasing recognition of the benefits of exercise in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet…
- 17Mar
Lack of access to information support for neurology patients
The Neurological Alliance have launched a report on their second patient experience survey. Involving over 7,000 neurology patients, analysis of the new survey data shows that patient experience in every area – the time taken to receive a diagnosis, access to specialists, on-going care and support – has significantly deteriorated in the last two years.…
- 10Feb
Better patient information needed on placebo effect
An article published in the BMJ (subscription required) has identified that information provided to participants does not adequately address the role of placebos, and that this lack of knowledge about placebos affects participants’ understanding of trials and breaches the ethical obligations of research. Informed consent requires researchers to provide participants with information about research that…
- 4Nov
Information for people on their visiting rights in care homes
CQC (the Care Quality Commission) has published information for people living in care homes, their family and friends, clarifying their visiting rights, and expectations of providers who are responsible for ensuring people are supported to maintain relationships that are important to them. This follows reports that there are cases where relatives have experienced visiting restrictions,…
- 31Oct
Maternity Services and user feedback: challenge fund launched
NHS England has launched an innovation fund to challenge maternity services in the use of patient feedback. Trusts have been invited to apply for funding up to £50,000 per project from a total pot of £100,000 set up to support further advances in this area, linked to the overarching ambitions of Better Births. The vision…