Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Patient Educ Couns. 2010 Jul;80(1):113-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2009.09.030. Epub 2009 Oct 23.
This study assesses the usability of three patient information leaflets and attempts to improve them while complying with the current EU regulations.
Three original leaflets were tested among 154 potential users. Every participant answered 15 scenario questions for one of the leaflets. The leaflets were subsequently redesigned based on the test results and evidence-based Document Design principles. The revised texts were tested among 164 participants.
All three original leaflets suffered from usability problems, especially problems related to finding relevant information. On average, only 75% of the topics could be located. Comprehension of the information, once found, was around 90%. The revisions led to better performance. Information was found faster and more successful. Comprehension scores were higher as well. A follow-up study shows that these findings can be generalized over paper formats.
Although the current EU regulations for patient information leaflets do not guarantee leaflet usability, the leaflets can be improved somewhat within the regulations. However, further research should evaluate the text structure currently imposed on leaflets.
Information leaflets must be written, or rewritten, according to Document Design principles. Furthermore, they must be user tested in a rigorous way.
本研究评估了三种患者信息传单的可用性，并尝试在符合当前欧盟法规的同时对其进行改进。
在 154 名潜在用户中测试了三个原始传单。每个参与者回答了 15 个与其中一个传单相关的情景问题。随后根据测试结果和基于证据的文档设计原则重新设计了传单。修订后的文本在 164 名参与者中进行了测试。
三个原始传单都存在可用性问题，尤其是查找相关信息的问题。平均而言，只有 75%的主题可以找到。一旦找到信息，理解率约为 90%。修订后提高了性能。信息查找更快、更成功。理解分数也更高。后续研究表明，这些发现可以推广到纸质格式。
尽管当前欧盟患者信息传单法规不能保证传单的可用性，但仍可以在法规范围内对其进行一定程度的改进。然而，应进一步研究评估目前对传单施加的文本结构。
信息传单必须根据文档设计原则进行编写或重写。此外，必须以严格的方式对其进行用户测试。
