This is the information prescriptions online resource

4.2 The process: Hot tips

Hot tips

  • Build internal and external support for IP.
    This is an essential part of developing your IP directory and template. Those who will be prescribing and dispensing need to be actively engaged throughout the development process. The benefits of IP and promoting IP sections will both be useful to you at this stage.
  • Look at multi-agency and partnership arrangements to help you develop IP. Other organisations often have well-developed directories of information you can use.
  • Use 'mapping' to help you work out what the critical stages are in care and what information may be needed at each stage.
    You can then use this to develop tailored templates and structured scripts to match the different stages of care and users' needs.
  • Involve a representative range of users
    In particular, involve people who experience some kind of disadvantage at both the design and testing stages of your director(ies) and template(s). This will help you to identify additional support needs and to work with people likely to be receiving IPs to see how these needs can be met.
  • Provide additional support to users facing disadvantages.
    This may mean, for instance
    • providing additional support during both the prescribing and dispensing processes, for instance, by ensuring that information is explained to the user and that they understand it.
    • distributing information at locations where disadvantaged users are likely to be and feel comfortable – some pilot professionals spoke of the benefit of making IPs available in settings such as community centres, older people's centres, or youth centres, to help users who may struggle to benefit from mainstream service providers, such as GP practices.
    • providing IPs through different channels, such as through telephone helplines, face-to-face, via the internet and through home visits.
    • using a range of formats: for example, what is appropriate for younger vulnerable people — who may like video clips and visual imagery and diagrams —may not suit older users; and some images may be appropriate in one culture but not another.

On the next page: developing your IPs