Policy primers

Picker Institute Europe's policy research primers aim to make the results of our research accessible and relevant to health policy makers, managers and relevant staff.

Patients make it better: the effectiveness of strategies to involve patients in improving the quality of healthcare, 2007

An overview of all the most reliable international research in English on the effectiveness of various interventions to engage patients and the public. Covers: health literacy; treatment decisions; supporting self-care;patient safety; access to healthcare; service improvement through choice and patient feedback.

 

Original source: research for the Health Foundation's QQUIP programme. For the full research see: Patient-focused interventions

 

At a crossroads without signposts: the struggle to access information about health and social services, 2007
Mystery shoppers tested how well healthcare organisations, local authorities and voluntary organisations provide basic information about services. Recommends better signposting and navigation; customer care training for staff; and the employment of 'information brokers' to help patients and service users find out what they need to know about appropriate services.

 

Original source: report for the Department of Health. For the full research see: Accessing information about health and social care services

Last updated: 8th March 2010