The effect of improved readability scores on consumers’ perceptions of the quality of health information on the internet

Bates, Benjamin R.; Romina, Sharon M.; Ahmed, Rukhsana

doi:10.1007/bf03174369

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, like the low-literacy participants, they understood the simplified Smart Comfort brochure better than the original version, while their understanding was unchanged between the simplified Watt Choices brochure and its original. This finding suggests that simplifying the wording of those brochures that have relatively straightforward content could potentially help lower literacy participants to understand their message, without causing adverse effects on high-literacy participants (Bates et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Effects of simplifying outreach materials for energy conservation programs that target low-income consumers

2013

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We thank Jack Wang, Barbara Bugosh and Denise Caruso for their help in conducting this research. 2 ABSTRACTCritics have speculated that the limited success of energy conservation programs among low-income consumers may partly be due to recipients having insufficient literacy to understand the outreach materials. Indeed, we found outreach materials for low-income consumers to require relatively high levels of reading comprehension. We therefore improved the FleschKincaid readability statistics for two outreach brochures, by using shorter words and shorter sentences to describe their content. We examined the effect of that simplification on low-income consumers' responses. Participants from low-income communities in the greater Pittsburgh area, who varied in literacy, were randomly assigned to either original communications about energy conservation programs or our simplified versions. Our findings suggest that lowering readability statistics successfully simplified only the more straightforward brochure in our set of two, likely because its content lent itself better to simplification. Findings for this brochure showed that simplification improved understanding of its content among both low-literacy and high-literacy recipients, without adversely affecting their evaluation of the materials, or their intention to enroll in the advertised programs. We discuss strategies for improving communication materials that aim to reach out to low-income populations.Keywords: Readability; Consumer Outreach; Energy Conservation 3 RESEARCH HIGLIGHTS Brochures about energy programs for low-income consumers can be too hard to read. We made brochures easier to read by using shorter words and shorter sentences. Simplifying a straightforward brochure improved the understanding of all recipients. However, simplifying a complex brochure had no effect on understanding. We suggest strategies for improving outreach to low-income consumers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Effects of simplifying outreach materials for energy conservation programs that target low-income consumers

2013

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“…Studies have found the literacy level of materials to influence perceived helpfulness of the message [11], understanding [12] and knowledge gain [13]. Other studies, however, have only found minimal effects from altering literacy levels of health materials [14].…”

Section: Factors Affecting Pfoa Regulation Attitudementioning

confidence: 98%

Investigating the Impact of Message Format, Involvement, Scientific Literacy, and Education on Attitude Toward Reducing Cancer Risk Through Regulation

et al. 2011

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Recent research links perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to increased breast cancer risk. Efforts to inform the lay public about potential risks associated with PFOA need to be accessible in their content as many individuals, including highly educated ones, have low scientific literacy. This study investigates the role of message format, as well as personal involvement, scientific literacy, and education in influencing attitudes about PFOA regulation. Participants (N = 2,078) were exposed to one of three message formats about PFOA and then responded to survey questions related to their attitude about the need for new regulation. Results revealed that issue involvement was positively related to favorable attitude regarding new regulation, while education and advocacy status were negatively related; cancer experience, scientific literacy, and message format did not influence attitude about new regulation. Implications of the results are discussed as they relate to communicating uncertain risk information to inform and influence lay individuals.

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“…Because family members, friends, and caregivers are affected by the survivorship experience, they are considered cancer survivors as well. 8 Cancer survivors have significant needs for information about diagnosis and treatment, help with symptom management, help with communication and coordination of care, and information on the prevention and surveillance of future problems. 4,5,7,13 The Web has emerged as a primary source of information for patients and health consumers.…”

Section: Web-based Health and Cancer Information Seekingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[35][36][37] Although modifying readability will not improve users' abilities to critically evaluate information quality, integrating simplified text, illustrations, and multimedia formats in the Cancer Information portal may help lower-literacy audiences make more effective use of information for health care decision making. 8,14 Interaction Design Through the interactive design stage, portal developers considered the specific system capabilities, functions, and navigational and directional aids that would impact on the users' interactions with the portal. This approach focused not only on how to present and target information to patients and other health consumers, but also on understanding how people interact with this information in decision making.…”

Section: Information Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low health literacy can affect any population segment, regardless of age, race, education, or income. [6][7][8][9] Numeracy represents the range of skills required to apply arithmetic operations or work with numbers such as percentages, statistics, tables, and charts. Numeracy impacts on patients' understanding of health instructions and information, particularly since health risk and prevention information are often presented in complex numerical and graphical formats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development and Evaluation of a Cancer Information Web Portal: The Impact of Design and Presentation on User Engagement

Schilling

McDaniel

2010

Journal of Consumer Health On the Internet

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Although cancer is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in the United States, many consumers do not have access to reliable, state-of-the-art cancer information on the Web. The Cancer Information portal translates evidence-based disease prevention and management information for text-based and multimedia delivery for diverse and low literacy citizens. Open-ended ''key informant'' interviews with consumers provided feedback on content presentation, and the portal's look, feel, and navigation. Evaluation assessed the portal's (1) readability, (2) required expertise, (3) user satisfaction, and (4) user comfort. Recommendations include improvements in key design areas to increase user efficacy and strengthen the portal's identity.

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The effect of improved readability scores on consumers’ perceptions of the quality of health information on the internet

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Effects of simplifying outreach materials for energy conservation programs that target low-income consumers

Effects of simplifying outreach materials for energy conservation programs that target low-income consumers

Investigating the Impact of Message Format, Involvement, Scientific Literacy, and Education on Attitude Toward Reducing Cancer Risk Through Regulation

Development and Evaluation of a Cancer Information Web Portal: The Impact of Design and Presentation on User Engagement

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