Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Conditions
Brief summary
The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of infographics, compared to standard PLS and scientific abstract format, in presenting information, in terms of understanding and remembering research results by physicians.
Detailed description
The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three different formats of the same systematic review summary (Infographics, PLS, scientific abstract). The content of these three formats is based on the same systematic review, but the ways of data presentation will differ: visual presentation in plain language, plain language only, and text with scientific abbreviations. The interventions will be delivered online in January 2016, with physicians who are currently working at Clinical Hospital Split. The trial will be preformed online, and it will be voluntary and anonymous. The survey will consist of 5 parts, in the following order: 1) one format of the summary (randomly assigned), 2) health numeracy, 3) demographic data 4) comprehension test of the information given in the summary, and 5) user friendliness of information and overall satisfaction with the given summary assessed by survey.
Interventions
OTHERPls
Text format with simple explanation of the survey topic main findings and is intended for lay audience.
OTHERInfographics
Cochrane started developing infographics, where short textual information about research is supported by visual representations of the main findings and is also aimed at the lay public The investigators will examine whether this format is better in information uptake than standard PLS.
OTHERScientific abstract
Scientific abstract the text written for the academic population and practitioners, with scientific abbreviations which enables experts to go into more detail about the topic.
Sponsors
University of Liverpool
University Hospital of Split
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* physicians who are working at Clinical Hospital Split
Exclusion criteria
* none
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of the Content of Summary Format | One month (30 days) | The questions will focus on understanding the benefits and risks of the intervention and the quality of evidence described in the systematic review. In total, there will be 10 open ended questions, and the total score will be the sum of the correct answers (minimum 0, maximum 10). Higher scores would indicate higher understanding. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Experience | One month (30 days) | This section of the survey will include 5 questions about the experience of participants about the text they read, measured on a 10-point Likert type scale, where 1 means do not agree at all and 10 means fully agree. The total score is the sum of scores on all five answers (minimum 5, maximum 50). Higher scores would indicate higher, or more positive, reading experience. |
| User Friendliness | One month (30 days) | This section of the survey will have 5 questions concerning how easy it was for the participant to find relevant information, measured by a 10-point Likert type scale where the answer 1 means I do not agree at all and 10 means I fully agree. The total score is the sum of scores on all the answers (minimum 5, maximum 50). Higher scores would indicate greater, or more positive user friendliness, meaning that participants consider that format as easier to find relevant information. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Health Numeracy | One month (30 days) | This section will use 6-item General health numeracy test (Osborne et al., 2013) in order to determine how much our participants understand the basic health instructions regarding numeracy dimension. For each correct answer, the participants receive one point and the total score is the sum of all correct answers. |
Countries
Croatia
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Plain Language Summary The control group will receive PLS: text format with simple explanation of the survey topic main findings and is intended for lay audience.
Pls: Text format with simple explanation of the survey topic main findings and is intended for lay audience. | 18 |
| Infographics Infographics format of a Cochrane systematic review summary represents the experimental intervention in the trial, where the results are presented with text and pictures.
Infographics: Cochrane started developing infographics, where short textual information about research is supported by visual representations of the main findings and is also aimed at the lay public The investigators will examine whether this format is better in information uptake than standard PLS. | 25 |
| Scientific Abstract Scientific abstract is the text written for the academic population and practitioners. It is also intended for control group.
Scientific abstract: Scientific abstract the text written for the academic population and practitioners, with scientific abbreviations which enables experts to go into more detail about the topic. | 21 |
| Total | 64 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 | FG002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | Withdrawal by Subject | 6 | 25 | 13 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Infographics | Scientific Abstract | Total | Plain Language Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 36.0 years | 38.0 years | 37.0 years | 40.0 years |
| Heard of Cochrane systematic reviews before | 23 Participants | 20 Participants | 61 Participants | 18 Participants |
| PhD degree | 13 Participants | 7 Participants | 29 Participants | 9 Participants |
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected | — | — | 0 Participants | — |
| Region of Enrollment Croatia | 25 Participants | 21 Participants | 64 Participants | 18 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 8 Participants | 16 Participants | 33 Participants | 9 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 17 Participants | 5 Participants | 31 Participants | 9 Participants |
| Specialization obtained | 18 Participants | 15 Participants | 46 Participants | 13 Participants |
| Used Cochrane library | 17 Participants | 15 Participants | 49 Participants | 17 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk | EG002 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 |
Outcome results
Primary
Understanding of the Content of Summary Format
The questions will focus on understanding the benefits and risks of the intervention and the quality of evidence described in the systematic review. In total, there will be 10 open ended questions, and the total score will be the sum of the correct answers (minimum 0, maximum 10). Higher scores would indicate higher understanding.
Time frame: One month (30 days)
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Language Summary | Understanding of the Content of Summary Format | 8.0 units on a scale |
| Infographics | Understanding of the Content of Summary Format | 8.0 units on a scale |
| Scientific Abstract | Understanding of the Content of Summary Format | 8.0 units on a scale |
Secondary
Reading Experience
This section of the survey will include 5 questions about the experience of participants about the text they read, measured on a 10-point Likert type scale, where 1 means do not agree at all and 10 means fully agree. The total score is the sum of scores on all five answers (minimum 5, maximum 50). Higher scores would indicate higher, or more positive, reading experience.
Time frame: One month (30 days)
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Language Summary | Reading Experience | 32.0 units on a scale |
| Infographics | Reading Experience | 37.0 units on a scale |
| Scientific Abstract | Reading Experience | 24.0 units on a scale |
Secondary
User Friendliness
This section of the survey will have 5 questions concerning how easy it was for the participant to find relevant information, measured by a 10-point Likert type scale where the answer 1 means I do not agree at all and 10 means I fully agree. The total score is the sum of scores on all the answers (minimum 5, maximum 50). Higher scores would indicate greater, or more positive user friendliness, meaning that participants consider that format as easier to find relevant information.
Time frame: One month (30 days)
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Language Summary | User Friendliness | 29.0 units on a scale |
| Infographics | User Friendliness | 36.0 units on a scale |
| Scientific Abstract | User Friendliness | 25.0 units on a scale |
Other Pre-specified
Health Numeracy
This section will use 6-item General health numeracy test (Osborne et al., 2013) in order to determine how much our participants understand the basic health instructions regarding numeracy dimension. For each correct answer, the participants receive one point and the total score is the sum of all correct answers.
Time frame: One month (30 days)
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Language Summary | Health Numeracy | 5.0 units on a scale |
| Infographics | Health Numeracy | 5.0 units on a scale |
| Scientific Abstract | Health Numeracy | 5.0 units on a scale |