Evidence-based consumer health information: developing teaching in critical appraisal skills

To help people who give health information to the public develop the skills they need to make sense of evidence about effectiveness.

Educational approach, preceded by careful planning with representatives of possible participants. SETTING AND STUDY OF PARTICIPANTS: Staff in consumer health information services and members of maternity self-help groups in the UK in summer 1995.

Pairs of half-day workshops introducing participants to randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews and to their critical appraisal. The workshops were run participatively and had at their centre a critical appraisal session in small groups.

Attendance at workshops, satisfaction and enjoyment of workshops; comments at a follow-on event.

Four pairs of workshops were held (three for consumer health information services, one for maternity self-help groups), 54 people attended a pair of workshops and a further 34 attended individual workshops. The workshops were enjoyed and found to be a good use of time.

It is feasible to introduce critical appraisal skills to people whose primary role is to give health information to the public. There is a need for comparative evaluation of different approaches.