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	Personalised Education and Information Support

quality assurance

PIES website was last updated 11 May 2006.

The information resources linked to from this site will be subject to review through quality criteria assessed by an editorial panel of specialists, non-specialists and users. Quality standards are important because they increase consumer confidence in the information that they are receiving. They help to ensure the safety and consistency of information. They also support patient empowerment, enabling patients to make their own health care decisions.

Criteria for assessing the information on the site have been compiled mainly based on guidelines from the former Centre for Health Information Quality.

The criteria developed for assessment of information are as follows:

Authorship

Can you identify author and contact details?

Are they a respected, reliable, and trustworthy source of information?

Content

Is the content accurate?

Is the content evidence-based?

Is the content up to date / does it contain a date of issue?

Is the content clearly communicated (format, language)?

Is the content comprehensive / complete?

Design

Web-based:

Is it easy to navigate and user friendly?

Is it relatively quick and easy to access?

Does the design help to find and view information?

Leaflet-based:

Are design features, illustrations etc relevant to and representative of content?

Is it well presented and laid out?

Relevance

Is the information relevant to users needs, and easily accessible to users?

Has it been developed in consultation / collaboration with users?

Is the purpose and intended audience stated?

Overall Opinion

Would you recommend this site?

Content is considered to be the most important factor, and therefore some sites which may be of poorer design may be included if the content is considered to be of value.

An editorial panel is reviewing the material on this site. This editorial panel consists of specialists, other health and social care professionals and users. The rating is indicated on the site in the form of number of pies, one pie indicating a poor rating, five pies indicating a higher rating. There is also opportunity for you to give your own rating and comments, although that will not be part of this formally organised quality assurance.

Please bear in mind that this site is still developing and most items have not yet passed through this rigorous editorial process. However, many organisations have their own quality assurance standards, and we have kept this in mind when we have made the current selection of information resources.