Communicating Evidence From Systematic Reviews to the Public

Summary

The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to compare a new standardised summary format for presentation of synthesised evidence from systematic reviews for the public (a new plain language summary format) to the current format used in Cochrane systematic reviews. The study will evaluate if the new presentation improves understanding about the benefits and harms of an intervention, if it improves the accessibility of the information, and if it is preferred over other versions by the public over the current format.

Conditions

• Adult

Interventions

OTHER

New plain language summary format

New plain language summary includes qualitative and quantitative description of text (absolute effects and natural frequencies provided); quantitative results provided in a table; quality of the evidence according to GRADE provided in a table; question and answer format; follows principles of linguistic frameworks (e.g. progressive movements from introduction to 'bottom line')

OTHER

Current plain language summary format

Current plain language summary includes qualitative description of effects only; inconsistent description of the quality of the evidence; paragraph of text; inconsistent flow of information

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McMaster University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Ottawa

  collaborator OTHER

• Asociacion Colaboracion Cochrane Iberoamericana

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Milan

  collaborator OTHER

• Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Claire Glenton, PhD · Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services

• Holger J Schunemann, MD PhD · McMaster University

• Nancy A Santesso, RD PhD cand · McMaster University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-05-31

Primary Completion

2009-10-31

Completion

2009-10-31

Countries

• Argentina
• Canada
• Italy
• Norway
• Spain

Study Locations