What is DISCERN?
DISCERN is a brief questionnaire which has been developed to help health
professionals, patients and carers assess the quality of written consumer
health information on treatment choices. DISCERN consists of 15 questions
plus an overall quality rating. Each question represents a separate quality
criterion and is accompanied by hints to guide the user.
Why was DISCERN developed?
With the multitude of information available to patients both in printed form
and the Internet, a method of checking the quality of the content of the
information is required. This will enable people to make informed choices
about treatment and to participate in decisions about their care. DISCERN
identifies key features of good quality information and provides health
information users with a systematic way of assessing the reliability of
written information for making decisions about treatment.
How is DISCERN being used?
DISCERN can be used by any individual or organisation interested in using or
providing good quality consumer health information on treatment choices.
Examples of current uses include:
* Selecting health information (e.g. Macmillan Cancer Relief Directory
of cancer information materials, NHS Direct Online)
* Guiding the production of patient information (e.g. Cancer BACUP,
various NHS Hospital trusts)
* Training professional and community groups in appraisal and shared
decision-making skills (DISCERN/CASP Workshops)
We are also developing and evaluating an online version of DISCERN
(available at www.discern.org.uk).
Training Programmes
Tailored training programmes are available on request from the PHRU office.
Or you may wish to come to a scheduled training day.
Forthcoming DISCERN training events:
* Wednesday 31 October 2001, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford.
This is a full day training the trainer day. The first part of the day is a
standard half-day workshop format and the second half looks at the main
concepts, practising individual speaker roles and answering frequently asked
questions.
The cost of this day is £120.00
* Further dates will be set during the next few months
How do I find out more?
For more information about either commissioning workshops or attending
training events, please contact:
Mark Hammond (PHRU) Tel: 01865 226669, e-mail mark.hammond
@phru.anglox.nhs.uk or Nicky Clisby, 01865 226707
CASP Office, Institute of Health Sciences, Old Rd, Headington, Oxford, OX3
7LF
|