ROS gains PIF TICK certification to become a ‘trusted information creator’

The ROS has been awarded the PIF TICK – the UK’s only assessed quality mark for print and online health and care information.

To become a ‘trusted information creator’, we had to undergo an assessment showing that our information met 10 key criteria. This means you can be assured that what you are reading, watching, or listening to is evidence-based, up-to-date, and easy to use and understand.

The health information we provide aims to help people understand how to lower their risk of broken bones – also known as ‘fragility fractures’ - and how to live well with osteoporosis. We also provide a wide variety of digital and printed health information, covering everything from general bone health, to diagnosing osteoporosis and fragility fractures, to osteoporosis drug treatments and living with spinal fractures.

Erika Radford, Head of Information and Support Services for ROS said: “Gaining the PIF TICK is such a fantastic achievement and testament to all the amazing work our teams do. It shows that we have a strong process for developing our health information resources. With so much information online, it can be difficult to know what to trust but this quality mark is a quick and easy way for people to be assured our information here at the ROS is reliable and trustworthy.”

The PIF TICK, which launched in May 2020, is run by the Patient Information Forum (PIF) charity. In July 2021, a public website, www.piftick.org.uk, was launched to raise awareness of PIF TICK certified information creators. The site also includes guides on topics including spotting false health information and understanding evidence.

PIF quality manager Dan Wills said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Royal Osteoporosis Society to our ever-growing community of certified PIF TICK members. Accurate, accessible, evidence-based information is key to increasing patient empowerment and improving health outcomes.”