title: Tailored information for cancer patients on the Internet: effects of visual cues and language complexity on information recall and satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the effects of visual cues and language complexity on satisfaction and information recall using a personalised website for lung cancer patients. In addition, age effects were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experiment using a 2 (complex vs. non-complex language)×3 (text only vs. photograph vs. drawing) factorial design was conducted. In total, 200 respondents without cancer were exposed to one of the six conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents were more satisfied with the comprehensibility of both websites when they were presented with a visual cue. A significant interaction effect was found between language complexity and photograph use such that satisfaction with comprehensibility improved when a photograph was added to the complex language condition. Next, an interaction effect was found between age and satisfaction, which indicates that adding a visual cue is more important for older adults than younger adults. Finally, respondents who were exposed to a website with less complex language showed higher recall scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of visual cues enhances satisfaction with the information presented on the website, and the use of non-complex language improves recall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study can be used to improve computer-based information systems for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.c.m.vanweert@uva.nl
authors.forename: Julia C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Weert
authors.forename: Guda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Noort
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bol
authors.forename: Liset
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Kiek
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tates
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003463:Cues; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007697:Kinesics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010781:Photography; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires