User testing of health information by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG)

Project management

Prof. Dr. Marie-Luise Dierks

Project sponsor

Institute for Efficiency and Quality in Health Care

Project duration

09/2008-06/2010; 2011-2012; 2012-2014; 03/2014-02/2016; 03/2016-02/2018; 03/2018-02/2020; 4/2020-3/2022; 4/2022-3/2025

Institutions

Patient University of the MHH,

Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Public Health Research, MHH

Cooperation partner

IQWiG

Research assistants

Dr. Gabriele Seidel
Antje Meyer
Lydia Schrader

Focus

Evaluation

In 2008, the Patient University at Hannover Medical School was entrusted by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) with the task of conducting a user evaluation of the health information for patients and citizens produced by IQWiG on the basis of Section 139a (3) No. 6 of the German Social Code - Fifth Book - Statutory Health Insurance.
The evaluation is based on a defined, verified test procedure. For this purpose, test readers are recruited from the circle of participants of the Patient University or via other target groups and integrated into an evaluation process that includes both individual evaluations of each test person and the results of opinion-forming within the framework of a moderated, discursive process. As of November 30, 2009, readers of different age and social groups had been integrated into the testing of information.

The test readers assess whether the texts address their information needs, whether they can understand the information as laypersons, how useful the information is for them and what further questions they may have about the material. We also assess whether the form of presentation (language, layout, visualization, etc.) is adequate and contributes to understanding the content, as well as the extent to which the texts create trust or anxiety.

A revised version of Irene Hirschberg's master's thesis in public health entitled "Evaluation and impact of evidence-based health information - the user's perspective" was published by Grin-Verlag. The thesis was written as part of the research project "User testing of health information" under the direction of Prof. Dr. Marie-Luise Dierks on behalf of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).

The book can be downloaded as a pdf file for €0.99 from the following Internet address:
www.grin.com/e-book/158865/bewertung-und-wirkung-von-evidenzbasierten-gesundheitsinformationen-die