Evidence-based health information from the users' perspective--a qualitative analysis.

Area of Science:

• Health communication
• Consumer health information
• Patient decision-making

Background:

• Evidence-based health information (EBHI) is crucial for informed health decisions.
• Existing research focuses on EBHI quality but less on user perceptions.
• Understanding consumer reactions to EBHI is vital for effective health communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the spectrum of consumer reaction patterns to written EBHI.
• To gain deeper insights into user comprehension, assumptions, needs, and expectations regarding EBHI.
• To inform the development of better EBHI communication strategies.

Main Methods:

• External user evaluation of EBHI produced by the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).
• Guided group discussions with 94 lay people assessing informational content, presentation, structure, comprehensibility, and effect.
• Qualitative text analysis of 25 discussion transcripts.

Main Results:

• A framework of eight reaction patterns was developed: interest, satisfaction, reassurance, trust, activation, disinterest, dissatisfaction, disappointment, anxiety, worry, and doubt.
• Lay people often struggle with understanding insufficient evidence and the lack of clear recommendations in EBHI.
• Identified user reactions provide a basis for understanding EBHI reception.

Conclusions:

• Many users are unfamiliar with key characteristics of EBHI, particularly regarding evidence limitations.
• Strategies are needed to better explain EBHI's nature and minimize adverse user reactions.
• The developed framework can support best practices for editing and presenting EBHI.