Evidence based patient information

Information in Practice pp 263, 264 Leaflets and other information packages (video and audio tapes, computer programs, and websites) have long been seen as integral to educational strategies designed to promote health, persuade people to adopt healthy lifestyles, and increase uptake of screening. They have also been developed to educate patients in self care of such chronic conditions as arthritis, hypertension, stress related psychological problems, gastrointestinal diseases, and back pain, and how to take medicines correctly. There is now growing interest in providing information to support patients' participation in choosing treatments and deciding on strategies for managing their health problems.1 Much well intentioned effort goes into developing such material, but good intentions are not enough to guarantee quality and usefulness, as two papers in this week's issue show (pp 263, 264). 23 If patients …