Consumers react positively to Nursing Home Compare, but they limit use based on lack of awareness and initial lack of trust in the data, according to a new analysis. The government website gives details and ratings about the nation’s nursing homes.

The report, which appears in April’s Health Affairs under the title “Use Of Nursing Home Compare Website Appears Limited By Lack Of Awareness And Initial Mistrust Of The Data,”  examines whether consumers are using the rating system in choosing nursing home placement.

“Our findings suggest that efforts to expand the use of Nursing Home Compare should focus on awareness and trust,” report authors R. Tamara Konetzka, Ph.D., and Marcelo Coca Perraillon wrote. “Useful additions to Nursing Home Compare might include measures of the availability of activities, information about cost, and consumer satisfaction.”

The full report can be obtained here.