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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. Go into ‘About palliative care’

16. 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

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

20. This information helps you to judge whether information is trustworthy

21. This page looks at using informaiton

22. 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

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

24. 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.