Optimizing Readability and Format of Plain Language Summaries for Medical Research Articles: Cross-sectional Survey Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plain language summaries (PLSs) are intended to provide readers with a clear, nontechnical, and easily understandable overview of medical and scientific literature; however, audience preferences for specific PLS formats have yet to be fully explored.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the preferred readability level and format for PLSs of medical research articles of different disease states via a web-based survey of audiences of different age groups.

Methods

Articles describing phase III clinical trials published in top-level, peer-reviewed journals between May 2016 and May 2018 were identified for 3 chronic disease states representing a range of adult patient age groups: (1) psoriasis, a skin disease representative of younger patients; (2) multiple scl

SUBMITTER: Martinez Silvagnoli L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8790687 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature