Benefits for the public

There’s a lot of health and social care information out there. But how can you tell which information is fact, and which is fiction? Research has shown that:

• 77% of people have looked up some form of health or social care information in the past 12 months*
• 75% find it hard to work out whether information is trustworthy or not*
• If users see that a piece of information has a clear logo of accreditation, it greatly strengthens their trust in the information and the whole process**

If you’re looking for trustworthy health or social care information, look for The Information Standard quality mark. An organisation that is displaying the mark on their printed and online information has undergone a rigorous certification process to prove that they provide quality evidence-based health and social care information. So you can confidently use their information to make informed decisions about your health and care. Many leading information producers such as NHS Trusts, local authorities and charities are already members of the scheme.

Click here to view the current certified members.

* Department of Health, TNS omnibus survey, March 2007

** Department of Health, Evaluation of Information Prescriptors, August 2008

Last updated: 26/07/2011