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. 2013 Dec;93(3):619-25.
doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2013.08.013. Epub 2013 Aug 20.

The development and testing of a brief ('gist-based') supplementary colorectal cancer screening information leaflet

Samuel G Smith  1 , Michael S Wolf, Austin Obichere, Rosalind Raine, Jane Wardle, Christian von Wagner
Affiliations

The development and testing of a brief ('gist-based') supplementary colorectal cancer screening information leaflet

Samuel G Smith et al. Patient Educ Couns. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To design and user-test a 'gist-based' colorectal cancer screening information leaflet, which promotes comprehension of the screening offer.

Methods: Twenty-eight individuals approaching screening age were recruited from organisations in deprived areas of England. Using a between-subjects design, we tested iterations of a newly-designed gist-based information leaflet. Participants read the leaflet and answered 8 'true' or 'false' comprehension statements. For the leaflet to be considered fit-for-purpose, all statements had to be answered correctly by at least 80% of participants in each round. Alterations were made if this threshold was not met and additional rounds of testing were undertaken.

Results: At round 1, answers to 2/8 statements did not meet the threshold. After changes, answers in round 2 did not reach the threshold for 1/8 statements. In round 3, all answers were adequate and the leaflet was deemed fit-for-purpose. Qualitative data offered solutions such as language and layout changes which led to improved comprehension of the leaflet.

Conclusion: User-testing substantially improved the design and subsequent comprehensibility of a theory-driven gist-based colorectal cancer screening information leaflet.

Practical implications: This leaflet will be evaluated as part of a large national randomised controlled trial designed to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in colorectal cancer screening participation.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Fuzzy-trace theory; Health literacy; Information design; Numeracy; Screening; User-testing.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Qualitative interview topic guide.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Procedure for user-testing a comprehensible leaflet.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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