Pander Maat, H. & Klaassen, R. (1994). Side effects of side effect information in drug information leaflets. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 24(4), 389-404.

Pander Maat, H. & Klaassen, R.

1994

Pander Maat, H. & Klaassen, R. (1994). Side effects of side effect information in drug information leaflets. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 24(4), 389-404.

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This study examines the way side effects information is presented in patient information leaflets. In a field experiment, we tested the effects of two attempts to improve a side effects paragraph in a leaflet about a NSAID type of medicine. First, a short introductory passage on the nature of side effects was added. Second and more importantly, we changed the frequency descriptors (FDs) for the side effects. A preliminary study had shown that the frequencies associated with common Dutch FDs are much higher than the writers of leaflets mean to convey. In the main study, we replaced the original FDs by lower-assessed FDs. For instance, 'soms' (sometimes) was replaced by 'zelden' (rarely). Replacing the FDs led to lower recall of side effects in the leaflet. It also decreased the number of side effects experienced. Contrary to our expectations, lower-rated FDs did not the confidence in the medicine, nor did they improve compliance. Adding an introductory passage lowered the frequency estimations, but did not affect the other dependent variables.

Replacing the FDs led to lower recall of side effects in the leaflet. It also decreased the number of side effects experienced. Contrary to our expectations, lower-rated FDs did not the confidence in the medicine, nor did they improve compliance. Adding an introductory passage lowered the frequency estimations, but did not affect the other dependent variables.

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