Quality of information

Producing reliable information for stroke survivors and their families and carers that helps them to understand stroke and make informed choices is a core part of The Stroke Association’s aims.

We have welcomed the opportunity to participate in the testing phase of the new Information Standard which is being developed by the Department of Health to deliver a nationally-recognised way to reassure people that the health and social care information they access comes from a reliable source.

The Information Standard will provide a way for the public and professionals to know that the information they are using is reliable, and The Stroke Association is committed to ensuring that our information provision achieves this quality mark.

The new scheme will play a valuable role in helping us to further improve our information production processes and demonstrate that our materials can be relied upon by those who use them.

The Stroke Association is testing the scheme alongside others from the commercial, public and voluntary sectors and aims to achieve certification through the testing phase in summer 2009.

Good quality information about risk factors enables people to take action to reduce their risk of stroke and, when a stroke has already happened, reliable up-to-date information helps people to understand treatments and rehabilitation options. 

The Stroke Association is committed to providing high quality information for stroke survivors, their carers and other family and friends. Our information is written by professionals who work for our Stroke Information Service and Helpline and hear at first hand about the issues of concern to people affected by stroke. We can also call on members of our Expert Advisory Group to review clinical and research related content when required.

We review all of our information materials at least every two years to ensure the content is kept up-to-date and to take into consideration feedback from users.

Recommendations for new publications are made on the basis of new published research findings, new clinical practice or guidelines, and suggestions from health and social care professionals, our service users and members of the public.

We aim to ensure that our information meets the DISCERN quality criteria for consumer health information on treatment choices and the Plain English Campaign guidelines. We also take measures to try to make our materials aphasia-friendly.

Our six core information leaflets were developed in consultation with service users and have been awarded Crystal Mark by the Plain English Campaign. To date, additional funding has enabled us to provide the following translations of these leaflets, all available as downloads from the website:

The cost of producing some of our publications is met by sponsorship agreements with private companies. Sponsorship of core information materials is considered on an individual basis.

The Stroke Association does not accept sponsorship from any pharmaceutical or other commercial company where acceptance would affect the independence of our governance, editorial control, or decision-making.