TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of two health information texts on patient recognition memory
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Freed, Erin
AU - Long, Debra
AU - Rodriguez, Tonantzin
AU - Franks, Peter
AU - Kravitz, Richard L
AU - Jerant, Anthony F
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - Objective: To compare the effects of two health information texts on patient recognition memory, a key aspect of comprehension. Methods: Randomized controlled trial (N = 60), comparing the effects of experimental and control colorectal cancer (CRC) screening texts on recognition memory, measured using a statement recognition test, accounting for response bias (score range -0.91 to 5.34). The experimental text had a lower Flesch-Kincaid reading grade level (7.4 versus 9.6), was more focused on addressing screening barriers, and employed more comparative tables than the control text. Results: Recognition memory was higher in the experimental group (2.54 versus 1.09, t = -3.63, P = 0.001), including after adjustment for age, education, and health literacy (β = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.68, P = 0.001), and in analyses limited to persons with college degrees (β = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.86, P = 0.004) or no self-reported health literacy problems (β = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.71, P = 0.02). Conclusion: An experimental CRC screening text improved recognition memory, including among patients with high education and self-assessed health literacy. Practice implications: CRC screening texts comparable to our experimental text may be warranted for all screening-eligible patients, if such texts improve screening uptake.
AB - Objective: To compare the effects of two health information texts on patient recognition memory, a key aspect of comprehension. Methods: Randomized controlled trial (N = 60), comparing the effects of experimental and control colorectal cancer (CRC) screening texts on recognition memory, measured using a statement recognition test, accounting for response bias (score range -0.91 to 5.34). The experimental text had a lower Flesch-Kincaid reading grade level (7.4 versus 9.6), was more focused on addressing screening barriers, and employed more comparative tables than the control text. Results: Recognition memory was higher in the experimental group (2.54 versus 1.09, t = -3.63, P = 0.001), including after adjustment for age, education, and health literacy (β = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.68, P = 0.001), and in analyses limited to persons with college degrees (β = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.86, P = 0.004) or no self-reported health literacy problems (β = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.71, P = 0.02). Conclusion: An experimental CRC screening text improved recognition memory, including among patients with high education and self-assessed health literacy. Practice implications: CRC screening texts comparable to our experimental text may be warranted for all screening-eligible patients, if such texts improve screening uptake.
KW - Colorectal neoplasms
KW - Early detection of cancer
KW - Educational status
KW - Health literacy
KW - Mass screening
KW - Mental recall
KW - Patient education as topic
KW - Patient education handout
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Reading
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2013.03.008
DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2013.03.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 23541216
AN - SCOPUS:84880326064
VL - 92
SP - 260
EP - 265
JO - Patient Education and Counseling
JF - Patient Education and Counseling
SN - 0738-3991
IS - 2
ER -