Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Cochrane Child Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
J Clin Epidemiol. 2023 Sep;161:8-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.06.018. Epub 2023 Jul 6.
To assess the effectiveness of plain language compared with standard language versions of COVID-19 recommendations specific to child health.
Pragmatic, allocation-concealed, blinded, superiority randomized controlled trial with nested qualitative component. Trial was conducted online, internationally. Parents or legal guardians (≥18 years) of a child (<18 years) were eligible. Participants were randomized to receive a plain language recommendation (PLR) or standard (SLV) verison of a COVID-19 recommendation specific to child health. Primary outcome was understanding. Secondary outcomes included: preference, accessibility, usability, satisfaction, and intended behavior. Interviews explored perceptions and preferences for each format.
Between July and August 2022, 295 parents were randomized; 241 (81.7%) completed the study (intervention n = 121, control n = 120). Mean understanding scores were significantly different between groups (PLR 3.96 [standard deviation (SD) 2.02], SLV 3.33 [SD 1.88], P = 0.014). Overall participants preferred the PLR version: mean rating 5.05/7.00 (95% CI 4.81, 5.29). Interviews (n = 12 parents) highlighted their preference for the PLR and provided insight on elements to enhance future knowledge mobilization of health recommendations.
Compared to SLVs, parents preferred PLRs and better understood the recommendation. Guideline developers should strive to use plain language to increase understanding, uptake, and implementation of evidence by the public.
评估普通语言与针对儿童健康的 COVID-19 建议的标准语言版本相比的效果。
具有嵌套定性部分的务实、分配隐藏、盲法、优势随机对照试验。试验在网上进行，具有国际性。年龄≥18 岁的儿童(<18 岁)的父母或法定监护人有资格参加。参与者被随机分配接受普通语言建议 (PLR) 或标准 (SLV) 版本的特定于儿童健康的 COVID-19 建议。主要结局是理解。次要结局包括：偏好、可及性、可用性、满意度和预期行为。访谈探讨了对每种格式的看法和偏好。
2022 年 7 月至 8 月期间，随机分配了 295 名父母；241 名（81.7%）完成了研究（干预组 n=121，对照组 n=120）。组间理解评分差异具有统计学意义（PLR 3.96 [标准差 (SD) 2.02]，SLV 3.33 [SD 1.88]，P=0.014）。总体而言，参与者更喜欢 PLR 版本：平均评分 5.05/7.00（95%可信区间 4.81，5.29）。访谈（n=12 名家长）强调了他们对 PLR 的偏好，并提供了关于增强未来健康建议知识传播的要素的见解。
与 SLV 相比，父母更喜欢 PLR，并且更好地理解了建议。指南制定者应努力使用普通语言，以提高公众对证据的理解、采纳和实施。
