Home Position Statement Informed Patients


 


 
 
 
 

International 
Council of Nurses
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Informed Patients

  

 

ICN Position:

 

ICN strongly believes that everyone has the right to up-to-date information related to the maintenance of health, and the prevention and treatment of illness.  Such information should be easily accessible, timely, accurate, clear, relevant, reliable and based on evidence or best practice.  Additionally, everyone should have access to accurate, reliable and transparent information on scientific research, pharmaceutical care and technological innovations.

 

People have a right to privacy and to confidentiality of information about their health.  Appropriate sharing of information is a pre-requisite for nurses and other health professionals to establish honest, collaborative relationships with patients and their families or carers.

 

People are entitled to access to information, in an appropriate format and to the level of their own choosing, that enables them to participate actively from an informed position, in decisions regarding their health.  Information for individual patients and carers should be responsive to their needs and circumstances including their religious, ethnic and cultural needs as well as their language skills and health literacy levels[1].  Risks and benefits of healthcare interventions and options should be explained to patients and, where appropriate, to their families and carers.

 

Nurses and other health professionals should work in partnership with all interested parties to ensure that patients and the public have access to appropriate information about health and health services.  Inherent in this is the expectation that nurses will be involved in research into the nature, quality and impact of patient information on health outcomes and nursing practice.

 

 

Supporting concepts

 

People who take an active role in their health make better informed decisions to self-treat, engage in healthier lifestyles and are more likely to be satisfied with their care and health outcomes.[2]  Nurses and other health professionals should acknowledge individuals’ rights to make informed decisions about how to manage their own health and to accept or reject health care or treatment.

 

They should respond to patient self-identified information needs rather than rely solely on professional knowledge or pre-conceived ideas.

 

Nurses and other health professionals need to have the knowledge and skills to manage information; to assist patients in accessing, managing and utilizing information; and to contribute to and assess the evidence base regarding the impact of informed patients on health outcomes.

 

Information should be made available using a variety of information and communication technologies and should be presented in accordance with recognised or agreed quality standards.

 

Initial and continuing education and training of nurses and other health professionals should provide them with the competencies necessary to ensure that patients and the public are well informed and to work in partnership with them to better meet their health needs.

 

 

Adopted in 2003

 

 

Related ICN Positions:

 

  • Patient Safety (2002)

  • Health Information: Protecting Patient Rights (2000)

 

 

ICN Publications:

 

  •  Patient Talk!  The ICN Informed Patient Project (2003)

[1] Health literacy is defined here as the ability to understand, internalise and use effectively, health information in everyday life.

[2] Department of Health.  Chronic Disease Management and Self-Care.  National Service Frameworks. (2002).  A practical aid to implementation in primary care.  Expert Patient Programme.  Progress Report.  February 6, 2003.  www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/progress/expertpatient/index.htm

 

 

The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 129 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide.  Operated by nurses for nurses, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.