Information Standard

Arthritis Care is one of the first organisations to be certified as a quality provider of health and social care information by The Information Standard – a new certification scheme for health and social care information.

Arthritis Care has demonstrated we have the necessary processes and systems to ensure our information meets the rigorous quality criteria of The Information Standard.

The charity, which provides practical and emotional support to the UK’s nine million people with arthritis, has consequently been awarded The Information Standard quality mark, which we can display on our information materials as a mark of quality and reassurance for the public.  

Arthritis Care's quality standards for information

The following quality standards are relevant for all health and lifestyle information produced by Arthritis Care (paper, online, audio etc.). Where appropriate, please refer to the editorial guidance.

1.      Information will be user-led and relevant to the user's needs.

2.      Information should contain the appropriate amount of detail. It should not be patronising

3.      All information will be clear, concise and in plain English. (We aim to achieve an equivalent clarity in translation.)

4.      All unfamiliar words (such as medical terms) will be explained in the main text.

5.      Information will be balanced, i.e. it will be based on the best available evidence.  It will also be honest about any conflicts of interest and acknowledge any uncertainties.

6.      An archive of information sources will be maintained against each of Arthritis Care’s information products. The information services team will be able to respond to any requests from a member of the public about the sources of our information. In addition, a list of sources for each information product will be available on the Arthritis Care website. 

7.      Information will follow good practice guidelines in the sector, e.g. DISCERN, BMA Book Award (patient information) criteria, King’s Fund guide to producing patient information.

8.      Medical information will be checked and approved by Arthritis Care’s medical advisory group and other relevant health professionals.

9.      Information will be checked and approved by lay readers representing the user group it is aimed at and members of the Arthritis Care helplines team

10.  Information will signpost readers to other Arthritis Care services, as well as relevant external organisations and resources.

11.  All information will conform to Arthritis Care house style guidelines (Appendix C).

12.  Illustrations and photographs should reflect the user group and wider society, as appropriate.

13.  Design and layout of paper-based and on-line information should reflect best practice in legibility and readability and follow good practice guidelines, e.g. RNIB See It Right. All information booklets and factsheets will adhere to clear print guidelines with text size kept at a minimum of 12 points.The website will meet the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Web Content Accessibility 'AA' guidelines. Audio recordings should be studio quality recordings

14.  Information will be reviewed, updated and amended regularly

15.  Information should be available to all, and comply with Arthritis Care’s equal opportunities policy and Welsh language policy.

16.  All new publications must have a clear distribution and marketing plan in place before completion.