Fact Sheet No 1 - 2003

Research shows that patients and consumers who take a more active role in their health decisions will live healthier lives and be more satisfied with their health care and treatment results.

If you, as a consumer and patient, want to take a more active role in your own care, you will need to seek information from a wide variety of places. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, patient support groups, television, medication leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, libraries, the Internet and help lines are all important sources of health information.

High-quality health information will help you to make informed decisions about taking care of your health, preventing disease, getting correct diagnoses, making good treatment choices and getting the best clinical care.

Health Care Relationships
Nurses, doctors and pharmacists routinely assess the information needs of their patients and provide them with health information. This works best when your relationship with your health care professional is a partnership. When the responsibility for health care decisions is shared, you and your health care professionals are more likely to choose the health options that will meet your needs. So talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Ask questions and express your wish for more information.

Making Sure You Get
Good Health Information

Not all health information is equally accurate or right for you. When you get health information from any source, ask yourself the following questions. The more times that the answer to these questions is ‘YES’, the more likely the health information is good information.

Accuracy

• Does the information give the names and educational credentials of all authors, and the health care institutions responsible for preparing it?
• Is the information really independent, or is it only trying to sell you a particular product?
• Are the messages in the information material consistent with each other? If you find the messages unclear or contradictory, you should be concerned about their accuracy.
• Does the information give the date when it was written, reviewed or scheduled to expire? Research in health and medicine can progress rapidly, and old information may no longer be the best information.
• Are scientific references and other sources of this health information clearly indicated?

Clarity

• Is the information easy to read and/or search?
• Is the corporate or organizational identification of the information source clearly visible?
• Are abbreviations and special terms explained?
• Is information about treatment risks and side effects provided?
• Are illustrations clear, and do they properly relate to the subject matter?

Relevancy

• Does the information meet your needs?
• Does the information respect your religious and ethical beliefs?
• Is it clear for whom the information is intended?
• Have consumers and patients been involved in developing the material?

	Sources: Centre for Health Information Quality. www.hiquality.org.uk/guide/default.htm. Commision for the European Communities eEurope 2002: Quality Criteria for Health Related Websites. Journal of Medical Internet Research 4(3). www.jmir.org/2002
High-Quality Internet Sources Health information is the most frequent type of information sought on the Internet. Be sure that the health information sites you rely on are transparent (open) and honest about sponsorship and purpose. Sites should provide a clear statement of their information and publication sources, assure your privacy and protect your user data protection, and provide access to reliable research and up-to-date clinical knowledge. Accountability and accessibility are essential. The following sites offer useful information on medical conditions and health related issues: National Health Service UK www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk Patient information resources National Institute on Health –U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.nih.gov Health information, A to Z topic list MedlinePlus – from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus Health topics, drug information, medical encyclopedia and dictionary Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov Includes health topics from A to Z If you have doubts about health information from any source, seek advice of a health professional