More co-ordinated approach to health information provision needed
More investment in health information is needed as well as a joined-up approach to its provision, according to Mark Duman, chairman of the Patient Information Forum (PiF).
Speaking at PiF’s annual conference held in London last week, Mr
Duman said: “Patient information is central to the choice and self
care agendas currently being promoted. But there needs to be a much more
joined-up approach to health information rather than the existing fragmented
one, and a lot more long-term, ring-fenced funding.”
Mark Davies, director of partnership, experience and involvement at the
Department of Health, told participants that information is highly significant
in allowing patients to manage their own care and that the department
is committed to providing reliable, timely information in a format accessible
to all.
However, Mr Duman, who is also a pharmacist, told The Journal that although
the DoH is committing more money than ever before to patient information — exemplified
by information prescription pilots, NHS Direct and Health Direct (a proposed
multimedia advice service), and the introduction of health trainers — the
level of investment is not in line with that in other areas. “If
information is truly a therapy, as the Government suggests, then we need
to see similar investments being made in information as that being made
in other therapy areas, such as drugs and surgery,” he argued.
Mr Duman also questioned why the NHS produces information in areas where
good quality information already exists and suggested that a more co-ordinated
approach is needed.
The Patient Information Forum is
an independent voluntary network that supports those involved in the
production and provision of high-quality health information
for patients and the public.
Health advice online Research funded by the Economic and Social Research
Council indicates that, when searching for health advice online, consumers
often reject
websites with high-quality medical information in favour of those that feature
personal stories from people in similar situations to themselves.
Drug company sites were often eliminated from searches within seconds because
of advertising and concerns about the authors’ motivation and agenda. NHS
sites were rejected because of too much background information or generic content. |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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