Why Information Matters This event is part of the Quality Use of CareSearch Project

Information for Consumers Patients Those involved in caring such as carers, friends, families Members of the community such as neighbours, friends or work colleagues When someone is ill it is important that they have information about what is happening

Why Information Matters Both patients and families need information at different times throughout their journey Good quality information can help with decision making Informed choices are better choices Different people have different needs for information at different times (ie, one size doesn’t fit all) To make the best decision you can, it is important to have all the information relevant to your situation

Why Information Matters Online resources are increasingly being used by both clinicians and consumers to find information to disseminate information & evidence We need to be ready for this Many people are turning to the computer to answer questions, to confirm things they have been told, to find information for themselves or for others These people may be making important decision based on what they find

Why Information Matters Google ‘Palliative care’ = 15.4 million results 498,000 pages from Australia What will you find? Of what quality? If looking for information on palliative care in google you will get many millions of results How do you know which ones can be trusted to provide good quality information ? Anyone can set up a website and put information up there – it could be incorrect

Why information matters Play safe: CareSearch provides a resource for trustworthy and current information

Quality Processes All materials on the website are developed and peer reviewed by Australian health professionals to ensure: that they relate to palliative care that they are trustworthy and reflect the best available evidence that where possible the evidence relates to rigorous research work. CareSearch quality processes are built into every process and evident in every page. All content pages are reviewed informally and formally, as well as being written for the target audience (eg, readability scores) All pages where possible are based on research evidence

This is what most see as the CareSearch project This is what most see as the CareSearch project. This is its public face - the CareSearch website There are nine blue buttons which represent the main entry points for different groups and different information needs. By clicking on one of the nine blue icons the user goes to a major set of pages and resources

Why Information Matters Information for consumers can be found within the website There are pages that look at the importance of information, and about finding out more

To find these resources go to the ‘For patients and Families’ section

Go into ‘About palliative care’

Finding out More The following pages provide information on how consumers can be more informed It includes facts on how to judge the quality of information and how to use it in decision making

This is a list of reputable websites where you can go to find further inforamtion

This information helps you to judge whether information is trustworthy

This page looks at using informaiton

HONCODE and HealthInsite are two symbols that are awarded to health websites that have quality processes in place These are a sign of quality, trustworthy information. HONCODE is international and HealthInsite is Australian

Why Information Matters Play safe: CareSearch provides a resource for trustworthy and current information

CareSearch would like to thank the many people who contribute their time and expertise to the project including members of the National Advisory Group and the Knowledge Network Management Group. CareSearch is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the National Palliative Care Program. www.caresearch.com.au