Reading about the experiences of others
can be a good way of helping a patient decide on a treatment
option. The
Database of Individual Patient
Experiences (DIPEx) website is designed for
patients who have to undergo treatment and who would like to find
out from other patients what the treatment was like or what it is
like to live with a particular condition. Patients can watch,
listen to or read interviews, find reliable information on
treatment choices, and learn how to access support.
The site covers cancers, heart
disease, mental health, neurological conditions, and screening
programmes; with plans for new areas on pregnancy, teenage health,
chronic illnesses and many others.
Another good source of
information on real patient experiences is a new website called
Patient
Opinion. Patient Opinion is an enterprise founded
by Paul Hodgkin, a GP in Sheffield, who wanted to make the wisdom
and insights of patients available to the NHS and other patients.
The website allows patients to rank health services and share the
story of their care. Patient Opinion sells this data to Trusts and
PCTs and is structured as a not-for-profit social enterprise.
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The National electronic Library for
Health (NeLH) has developed a suite of online
Specialist
Libraries dedicated to the best currently
available evidence in each clinical area. Although
designed for GPs and specialists the information
will be useful to patients seeking more in-depth knowledge
about a condition and its treatment.
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