BNF for Children
BNF for Children Publications improves the health of people by being the authority in the selection and use of medicines.
This policy covers our aspirations and commitments to obtain feedback from customers and users of BNF for Children publications to
BNF for Children Publications has a structured approach to gathering feedback via the BNF for Children Virtual User Groups. Healthcare professionals can give feedback and inform development of future BNF for Children formats and content. Respondents are recruited from those who receive e-newsletters from the BNF for Children, and they are surveyed on particular editorial issues that are identified by the BNF for Children team.
These surveys happen several times a year. Surveys are conducted online and typically consist of a dozen questions. The responses are used to inform our editorial development. For instance, we might ask how widely used particular parts of a chapter are within a specific professional group, and make changes to the section to increase its usefulness.
The clinical governance of BNF for Children Publications consists of the Joint Formulary Committee, the Paediatric Formulary Committee, the Dental Advisory Group, and the Nurse Prescribers’ Advisory Group. These panels of leading clinical experts provide specific advice on the use of medicines. The Committees also debate wider issues and advise on the strategic development of the clinical content of BNF for Children publications.
BNF for Children Publications uses a network of clinical advisers from every speciality and from across the UK to assist the Formulary Committees in making clinical decisions. Feedback from the expert advisers is solicited for every edition of the publications, and is an important source of content development.
At regular intervals, and at least every three years, a formal market research exercise is conducted to provide information on sources of medicines information. The aim of these exercises is to track the popularity and use of BNF for Children relative to other sources and in different professional groups, to gain understanding of the different formats, and to measure satisfaction. Suggestions for improvement are also sought. The research is conducted by an independent third party. The first few questions, asking which medicines information sources are used, are always conducted before the BNF for Children is revealed as the sponsor of the research.
The following key indicators, measured through the periodic formal market research, are used to measure the effectiveness of the BNF for Children: