Consumer health information. What the research is telling us.

BACKGROUND: Consumer health information is a necessary component of patient care and consumer participation.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the findings of the 'Assessing the Quality of Consumer Health Information Project' and discuss strategies for improving consumer information.

DISCUSSION: The pamphlets identified in this study were not developed with consumer input with consequent deficits apparent. Providers and consumers appeared to use the information for very different purposes but both groups were critical of the ambiguous terminology and lack of quantified data. The provision of relevant information is a fundamental prerequisite of consumer participation in decision making in health care. Such information needs to be available, accurate, and understandable.