As more health information becomes available through sources such as the Internet and mass media, many patients are educating themselves about their health, often self-diagnosing their conditions and pursuing care on their own. However, the large amount of health information now available is often contradictory, and sometimes unreliable.

To help consumers learn how to best understand and use health information, Kaiser Permanente has entered into a partnership with the National Consumers League (NCL). Together the two organizations are informing consumers that, by working with their doctor in a joint decision-making process, they can examine the information and find the best medical treatment based on what works and is effective.

KP's Care Management Institute and KP's Community Benefit Program are working closely with the NCL to educate consumers about how evidence-based medicine can provide the foundation for improved doctor-patient communication. Together, the organizations have held focus groups, developed messages, met with a range of consumer groups, and sponsored a health forum about the everyday challenges and obstacles that consumers face in managing their health care.

At a meeting May 30 in Washington, D.C. with representatives of 13 national consumer organizations, Paul Wallace, MD, executive director, Care Management Institute, gave a presentation on "Leveraging the Evidence in Pursuit of Value: Making the Right Thing Easier to Do."

"There are many different perspectives on what constitutes value in health care, but the concept of evidence-based medicine helps to create dialogue among diverse groups, including health care organizations, researchers and consumers," said Dr. Wallace. "Being clear about what works and what doesn't helps create common ground and is absolutely essential to moving the value discussion forward."

To further involve consumers in the understanding of evidence-based medicine, KP and the NCL are planning to roll out a media campaign later in the year.

For more information see "National Consumers League Consumer Messages on Evidence Based Medicine" article.