A comparison of narrative and table formats for presenting hypothetical health states to patients with gastrointestinal or pulmonary disease.
Traditionally, quality-of-life researchers describe states of health for patients to rate either in narrative form or in table form, but evidence about which format patients prefer is limited. The authors performed 2 randomized studies to test whether patients prefer the table or narrative format and whether the format of presentation influences how patients rate health states. Approximately three-fourths of patients with gastrointestinal disease or chronic airflow limitation preferred the table format. There were no differences in patients' ratings of 3 described health states or of their own health. Investigators should consider using the table presentation for describing health states to subjects who are not familiar with these states of health.
Schünemann
Holger J
HJ
McMaster University Health Sciences Centre, Room 2C12, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada. schuneh@mcmaster.ca.
Ståhl
Elisabeth
E
Austin
Peggy
P
Akl
Elie
E
Armstrong
David
D
Guyatt
Gordon H
GH
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D015415:Biomarkers; D002170:Canada; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile
D015415:Biomarkers