title: A summary to communicate evidence from systematic reviews to the public improved understanding and accessibility of information: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a new format of a summary, which presents research from synthesized evidence to patients and the public.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 143 members of the public from five countries (Canada, Norway, Spain, Argentina, and Italy). Participants received either a new summary format (a plain language summary [PLS]) or the current format used in Cochrane systematic reviews. The new PLS presents information about the condition and intervention, a narrative summary of results, and a table of results with absolute numbers for effects of the intervention and quality of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the new PLS, more participants understood the benefits and harms and quality of evidence (53% vs. 18%, P < 0.001); more answered each of the five questions correctly (P ≤ 0.001 for four questions); and they answered more questions correctly, median 3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1-4) vs. 1 (IQR: 0-1), P < 0.001). Better understanding was independent of education level. More participants found information in the new PLS reliable, easy to find, easy to understand, and presented in a way that helped make decisions. Overall, participants preferred the new PLS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new PLS format for patients and the public is a promising tool to translate evidence from synthesized research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L8. Electronic address: santesna@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santesso
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart St., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rader
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian Branch of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, Pilestredet Park 7, 0130 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Elin Strømme
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian Branch of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, Pilestredet Park 7, 0130 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glenton
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian Branch of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, Pilestredet Park 7, 0130 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: Argentine Cochrane Centre, Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS), Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires, Argentina C1414CPV - C1181ACH.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciapponi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS Orthopedic Institute Galeazzi, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moja
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart St., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Jordi Pardo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L8.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L8; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L8.
authors.forename: Holger J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schünemann
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D003657:Decision Making; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058028:Research Report; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: Communication; Comprehension; Consumer satisfaction; Information dissemination; Patient education as topic; Review literature as topic