The Work of the Centre for Health Information Quality

Tom Hain

In any healthcare system, patients and carers want information. A lack of information can lead to poor communication, which is a most common cause of dissatisfaction. There is also evidence that information & shared decisions lead to better outcomes and that information can reduce demand for intervention [1].

To succeed in providing useful information to consumers in healthcare safely and effectively, the information needs to have been identified from the best evidence sources, and developed using robust mechanisms to ensure the quality of a) access to and b) content of that information are not compromised at any point. For parents expecting a child or caring for the newborn, this is particularly important, as the consequences of the carer receiving inaccurate information may be serious.

The Centre for Health Information Quality was originally set up by the NHS Executive in 1997. In 'Information for Health' (NHSE, 1998 [2]) it stated 'The role of the Centre for Health Information Quality will ... play a stronger role in accrediting patient and public information material …”.

More recently, 'Patient and public involvement in the new NHS' (DoH, 1999 [3]) illustrated how the Centre had evolved: “C.H.i.Q. acts as an information clearing house on all aspects of patient information, providing practical advice to the NHS and others on the production of good quality information for patients.”

The Centre is developing services, which focus on the appraisal, and accreditation of consumer health information for a variety of media formats (e.g. print, web-based, multi-media). The Centre has trained appraisers as part of its services to NHSDirect Online, which is also based here at the Trust.

The Centre's main work programme is with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), supporting patient information development within their Clinical Guidelines programme. The Centre's model for development of public versions of clinical guidelines is being used in this process.

Getting the highest quality information made available to the widest possible audience is crucial in any modern national health service. Through services such as these, it is hoped that the Centre can continue to have a positive influence in raising the standards of consumer health information for all.






References

1. Coulter, A. Partnerships with patients J Health Serv Res Policy 1997, 2(2), 112-21
   
2. NHS Executive (1998) Information for Health: An Information Strategy for the Modern NHS 1998-2005
   

[3]        NHS Executive (1996) Patient Partnership Strategy







Tom Hain
Manager
Centre for Health Information Quality (C-H-i-Q)
The Help for Health Trust

Tel 01962 872202
Fax 01962 849079
www.hfht.org/chiq