BACKGROUND: there are guidelines available from a number of countries and organisations regarding the design of written information, as appropriate design is essential for effective communication. The design of leaflets should be evaluated, as written information that does not adhere to guidelines may not be effective for seniors. OBJECTIVE: to use current typeface guidelines to describe the design of health information leaflets. DESIGN: this was a cross-sectional study of leaflets from pharmacies and seniors' clinics. SETTING:community pharmacies, seniors' clinics in Edmonton, Canada. METHODS: health information leaflets and hydrochlorthiazide information sheets were collected. The body of each was evaluated, based on guidelines (from Canada, UK and USA). Adherence to recommendations was assessed descriptively. RESULTS:a total of 388 unique leaflets and 10 hydrochlorthiazide sheets were collected from 21 pharmacies and 3 clinics. Most leaflets were produced by pharmaceutical companies (42.8%) and contained disease information (43.8%). Only one-third of all leaflets used the minimum recommended point size (12 point), 18.6% followed American guidelines for line spacing (1.5 lines), but 77.1% had appropriate contrast. CONCLUSIONS: although guidelines are available, most leaflets did not meet recommendations. Improvements in the leaflet design should be considered to aid seniors in the uptake of information.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: there are guidelines available from a number of countries and organisations regarding the design of written information, as appropriate design is essential for effective communication. The design of leaflets should be evaluated, as written information that does not adhere to guidelines may not be effective for seniors. OBJECTIVE: to use current typeface guidelines to describe the design of health information leaflets. DESIGN: this was a cross-sectional study of leaflets from pharmacies and seniors' clinics. SETTING: community pharmacies, seniors' clinics in Edmonton, Canada. METHODS: health information leaflets and hydrochlorthiazide information sheets were collected. The body of each was evaluated, based on guidelines (from Canada, UK and USA). Adherence to recommendations was assessed descriptively. RESULTS: a total of 388 unique leaflets and 10 hydrochlorthiazide sheets were collected from 21 pharmacies and 3 clinics. Most leaflets were produced by pharmaceutical companies (42.8%) and contained disease information (43.8%). Only one-third of all leaflets used the minimum recommended point size (12 point), 18.6% followed American guidelines for line spacing (1.5 lines), but 77.1% had appropriate contrast. CONCLUSIONS: although guidelines are available, most leaflets did not meet recommendations. Improvements in the leaflet design should be considered to aid seniors in the uptake of information.
Authors: Virtudes Pérez-Jover; José J Mira; Concepción Carratala-Munuera; Vicente F Gil-Guillen; Josep Basora; Adriana López-Pineda; Domingo Orozco-Beltrán Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-02-10 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Muhammad Jawad Hashim; Halla Mustafa; Amani Obaid Al Abdouli; Reem Ahmed Abdulla Al; Salama Mohamed AlQahtani; Salama Abdulbasit Almajed; Shamma Saif Alzaabi; Mariam Salem Alkaabi Journal: Med Princ Pract Date: 2013-01-18 Impact factor: 1.927
Authors: Enrica Menditto; Valentina Orlando; Giuseppe De Rosa; Paola Minghetti; Umberto Maria Musazzi; Caitriona Cahir; Marta Kurczewska-Michalak; Przemysław Kardas; Elísio Costa; José Manuel Sousa Lobo; Isabel F Almeida Journal: Pharmaceutics Date: 2020-01-03 Impact factor: 6.321