Comprehensibility of Fact Sheets Addressing Benefits and Risks of Preventive Interventions: A Cross-Sectional...

Area of Science:

• Health communication
• Medical decision making
• Evidence-based practice

Background:

• Preventive tests and procedures (PTPs) aim to reduce disease burden.
• Discrepancies between patient expectations and guidelines lead to PTP overuse or underuse.
• Shared decision-making (SDM) requires clear, evidence-based patient information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop prototype fact sheets for informed decisions about PTPs.
• To conduct an initial evaluation of these fact sheets' user experience and comprehensibility.

Main Methods:

• Developed 11 PTP fact sheets based on guideline recommendations.
• Assessed user experience and comprehensibility via a university population survey.
• Collected ratings on comprehensibility, content, and design; analyzed subgroup differences.

Main Results:

• Median fact sheet approval score was 77%; 6/11 sheets exceeded 80% comprehensibility.
• Lower approval for risk descriptions, usefulness in consultations, and visuals; cancer screening sheets scored lowest.
• Younger age groups and higher education levels reported lower approval.

Conclusions:

• Fact sheets demonstrated generally positive user ratings for comprehensibility and experience.
• Risk presentation and visuals need adaptation, particularly for cancer screening topics.
• Tailored informational materials are crucial for effective SDM support.