QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Extracto Full Text PDF Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Articles Ahead of Print [Order Reprint] Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Raynor, D. K Articles by Dickinson, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Raynor, D. K Articles by Dickinson, D.

AMBULATORY CARE

Key Principles to Guide Development of Consumer Medicine Information—Content Analysis of Information Design Texts

Pharmacy Practice and Medicines Management Group, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, England

David Dickinson, MA

Consultant in Consumer Information Design, Consumation, London, England

Reprints: Dr. Raynor, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, UK LS2 9JT, fax 00 44 113 343 1284, d.k.raynor{at}leeds.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Effective written consumer medicines information is essential to support safe and effective medicine taking, but the wording and layout of currently provided materials do not meet patients' needs.

OBJECTIVE: To identify principles from the wider discipline of information design for use by health professionals when developing or assessing written drug information for patients.

METHODS: Six experts in information design nominated texts on best practice in information design applicable to consumer medicines information. A content analysis identified key principles that were tabulated to bring out key themes.

RESULTS: Six texts that met the inclusion criteria, were identified, and content analysis indentified 4 themes: words, type, lines, and layout. Within these main themes, there were 24 subthemes. Selected principles relating to these subthemes were: use short familiar words, short sentences, and short headings that stand out from the text; use a conversational tone of voice, addressing the reader as "you"; use a large type size while retaining sufficient white space; use bullet points to organize lists; use unjustified text (ragged right) and bold, lower-case text for emphasis. Pictures or graphics do not necessarily improve a document.

CONCLUSIONS: Applying the good information design principles identified to written consumer medicines information could support health professionals when developing and assessing drug information for patients.

Key Words: consumers, drug information, readability

Published Online, March 24, 2009. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1L522