Introduction: Consumer health information services respond to a wide range of health related enquiries from patients and members of the public. Traditionally, they have provided readily understandable information about the nature of health problems, health care processes, local services and self help groups. They are now increasingly expected, by both their funders and their enquirers, to provide information about the effectiveness of health care interventions, which can be used to inform consumer participation in treatment decisions. Many consumer health information services do not yet have the skills or resources needed to provide good quality research based information about health care effectiveness in formats which are appropriate for their enquirers.

# Methods: This paper considers issues surrounding the use of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and other research based information sources by consumer health information providers. It draws on issues raised during a workshop of consumer health information providers in Scotland, and discusses in particular: the strengths and weaknesses of CDSR from the point of view of consumer health information providers;

# the possibility of producing readily understandable summaries of systematic reviews;

# the assistance which consumer health information providers may need to give to people to help them interpret and use research based information about health care effectiveness;

# the effects of consumer health information provision which takes place outside the direct health care delivery process,

# the training needs of consumer health information providers with respect to provision of information about the effectiveness of health care interventions.

The authors will introduce an introductory set of readings about health care effectiveness for consumer health information providers and discuss the possibility of developing specific guidance for them about the use of CDSR.