Can the written information to research subjects be improved?--an empirical study.

OBJECTIVES To study whether linguistic analysis and changes in information leaflets can improve readability and understanding. DESIGN Randomised, controlled study. Two information leaflets concerned with trials of drugs for conditions/diseases which are commonly known were modified, and the original was tested against the revised version. SETTING Denmark. PARTICIPANTS 235 persons in the relevant age groups. MAIN MEASURES Readability and understanding of contents. RESULTS Both readability and understanding of contents was improved: readability with regard to both information leaflets and understanding with regard to one of the leaflets. CONCLUSION The results show that both readability and understanding can be improved by increased attention to the linguistic features of the information.