Empirical research suggests that appropriately prescribed, decision-focused, evidence-based health information empowers consumers, enabling them to participate as active partners in their own care and improve their health outcomes. A white paper from the Center for Information Therapy (CIT) presents the relevant research and explains how information therapy responds to the specific recommendations issued by the Institute of Medicine in its landmark Crossing the Quality Chasm report.

Urgent Need for Policy Change
An urgent need exists for policy makers and researchers to press for additional private- and public- sector policy changes that help support good health decisions and self-management of diseases. To accomplish change, research is needed to determine the best way to implement such policies and to demonstrate the outcomes of the efforts.

Healthwise and the CIT (both nonprofit organizations) can assist in three important ways:

1. By encouraging key foundations and agencies to establish an information therapy research agenda.
   
2. By connecting academically based researchers with health plan and clinical partners to facilitate real-world evaluations of the effectiveness of information-based interventions.
   
3. By quickly disseminating documented findings to millions of consumers and hundreds of health plans, hospitals, clinics, and other health care organizations.