{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,19]],"date-time":"2026-10-19T09:24:57Z","timestamp":1792401897971,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Med Internet Res"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n Plain language summaries (PLSs) are intended to provide readers with a clear, nontechnical, and easily understandable overview of medical and scientific literature; however, audience preferences for specific PLS formats have yet to be fully explored.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aims to evaluate the preferred readability level and format for PLSs of medical research articles of different disease states via a web-based survey of audiences of different age groups.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Articles describing phase III clinical trials published in top-level, peer-reviewed journals between May 2016 and May 2018 were identified for 3 chronic disease states representing a range of adult patient age groups: (1) psoriasis, a skin disease representative of younger patients; (2) multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disease representative of middle-aged patients; and (3) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a painful joint disease representative of older patients. Four PLSs were developed for each research article, of which 3 were text-only summaries (written with high, medium, and low complexity) and 1 was an infographic. To evaluate each of the 4 PLS formats, a 20-question open survey (specific to one of the 3 diseases) was sent to a representative sample selected via UK-based patient association websites, Twitter, and Facebook patient groups. A weighted-average calculation was applied to respondents\u2019 ranked preferences for each PLS format.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n For all 3 articles, the weighted-average preference scores showed that infographic (psoriasis 2.91, MS 2.71, and RA 2.78) and medium-complexity text-based PLS (reading age 14-17 years, US Grade 9-11; psoriasis 2.90; MS 2.47; RA 2.77) were the two most preferred PLS formats.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Audience preferences should be accounted for when preparing PLSs to accompany peer-reviewed original research articles. Oversimplified text can be viewed negatively, and graphical summaries or medium-complexity text-based summaries appear to be the most popular.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Plain Language Summary<\/jats:title>\n Patients and caregivers should have the chance to read about medical research in a format they can understand. However, we do not know much about the formats that people with different illnesses or ages prefer. Researchers wanted to find out more about this. They selected 3 medical articles about illnesses that affect different age groups: psoriasis (younger patients), multiple sclerosis (middle-aged patients), and rheumatoid arthritis (older patients). They created 4 summaries of each article. One was a graphical summary, and the other 3 were words-only summaries of high, medium, and low complexity. Then, the researchers posted surveys on UK patient group websites and Facebook patient groups to ask people what they thought of the summaries. The surveys were taken by 167 people. These people were patients with psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis, or their caregivers. Most were women, and about half had a university degree. For each illness, most people preferred the graphical summary. Among the word-only summaries, most people preferred the medium-complexity wording written for a reading age of 14 to 17 years. People felt that the graphical and medium-complexity summaries were clear and concise, while the others used jargon or were too simple. Authors of medical articles should remember these results when writing summaries for patients. More research is needed about the preferences of other people, such as those with other illnesses. (See Multimedia Appendix 1 for the graphical summary of the plain language summary.)<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/22122","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,29]],"date-time":"2021-09-29T07:53:43Z","timestamp":1632902023000},"page":"e22122","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":40,"title":["Optimizing Readability and Format of Plain Language Summaries for Medical Research Articles: Cross-sectional Survey Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1042-6278","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Leia","family":"Mart\u00ednez Silvagnoli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3930-1313","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Caroline","family":"Shepherd","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2620-7061","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James","family":"Pritchett","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5238-5596","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jason","family":"Gardner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40290-019-00285-0"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606-012-2046-0"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1377\/hlthaff.2012.1205"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12874-019-0716-x"},{"key":"ref5","unstructured":"State of Science Index Survey3M2019-05-27https:\/\/www.3m.com\/3M\/en_US\/state-of-science-index-survey\/2019-summary\/"},{"key":"ref6","unstructured":"DukeMHow to write a lay summaryDigital Curation Centre20122021-05-27https:\/\/www.dcc.ac.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/publications\/HowToLaySummariesDec2012.pdf"},{"key":"ref7","unstructured":"Clear communicationNational Institutes of Health \u2013 Office of Communications and Public Liaison20202021-05-27https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/institutes-nih\/nih-office-director\/office-communications-public-liaison\/clear-communication"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1525\/collabra.18898"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinepi.2017.12.003"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2168479017738723"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1179\/2047480615z.000000000320"},{"key":"ref12","unstructured":"BlythJGaskarthMPlantAWoodsKWe need to talk about PLS...exploring the opportunities of plain-language summariesISMPP Newsletter20192021-05-27https:\/\/ismpp-newsletter.com\/2019\/05\/01\/we-need-to-talk-about-plsexploring-the-opportunities-of-plain-language-summaries\/"},{"issue":"2","key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e52","DOI":"10.36834\/cmej.36848","volume":"9","author":"Warde, F","year":"2018","journal-title":"Can Med Educ J"},{"key":"ref14","unstructured":"Good Lay Summary PracticeClinical Trials Expert Group202110042021-11-26https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/eudralex\/vol-10\/glsp_en.pdf"},{"key":"ref15","unstructured":"Summaries of clinical trials for laypersonsEuropean Commission20172021-05-27https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/sites\/health\/files\/files\/eudralex\/vol-10\/2017_01_26_summaries_of_ct_results_for_laypersons.pdf"},{"key":"ref16","unstructured":"Plain language summary guidance document submitted to the FDA\u2013open for commentsMulti-regional Clinical Trials Center20172021-05-27https:\/\/mrctcenter.org\/blog\/news\/plain-language-summary-guidance-document-submitted-fda-open-comments\/"},{"key":"ref17","unstructured":"Plain English summaries: What is a plain English summary?National Institute for Health Research20212021-09-09https:\/\/www.invo.org.uk\/resource-centre\/plain-english-summaries\/what-is-a-plain-english-summary\/"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/03007995.2021.1997221"},{"key":"ref19","unstructured":"Plain language summaries (PLS) of publications toolkit: a best-practice resource for PLS of peer-reviewed publications and congress abstractsEnvision Pharma Group20182021-05-27https:\/\/www.envisionthepatient.com\/plstoolkit\/"},{"key":"ref20","unstructured":"Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR): Standards for the reporting of plain language summaries in new Cochrane Intervention ReviewsCochrane Methods20132021-09-09https:\/\/methods.cochrane.org\/sites\/default\/files\/public\/uploads\/pleacs_2019.pdf"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/03007995.2021.1971185"},{"issue":"3","key":"ref22","first-page":"46","volume":"28","author":"Chamberlain James, L","year":"2019","journal-title":"Medical Writing"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0140029"},{"key":"ref24","unstructured":"Readability formulas and the active role of the readerReadability Formulas20192021-05-27http:\/\/www.readabilityformulas.com\/articles\/readability-formulas-and-the-active-role-of-the-reader.php"},{"issue":"3","key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1037\/h0057532","volume":"32","author":"Flesch, R","year":"1948","journal-title":"J Appl Psychol"},{"key":"ref26","first-page":"1","author":"Kincaid, JP","year":"1975","journal-title":"Derivation of new readability formulas (automated readability index, fog count, and Flesch reading ease formula) for Navy enlisted personnel"},{"key":"ref27","unstructured":"The 2011 Skills for Life Survey: A Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Levels in EnglandDepartment for Business Innovation and Skills20112021-09-09LondonDepartment for Business Innovation and Skillshttps:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/36000\/12-p168-2011-skills-for-life-survey.pdf"},{"key":"ref28","unstructured":"Content design: planning, writing and managing contentUK Government Digital Service201602252021-09-09https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/content-design"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(16)32127-4"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1601277"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(17)30401-4"},{"key":"ref32","unstructured":"Survey MonkeyAbout the cookies we use2021-09-09Survey Monkeyhttps:\/\/help.surveymonkey.com\/articles\/en_US\/kb\/About-the-cookies-we-use"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.6.3.e34"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.1842"},{"key":"ref35","unstructured":"United States CongressPlain Writing Act of 2010Public Law 111-274-Oct. 13 2010. 124 STAT. 2861. Congressional record, Vol. 156 (2010)201010132021-11-26https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/PLAW-111publ274\/pdf\/PLAW-111publ274.pdf"},{"key":"ref36","unstructured":"National action plan to improve health literacyUS Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion20102021-05-27Washington, DChttps:\/\/health.gov\/communication\/initiatives\/health-literacy-action-plan.asp"},{"key":"ref37","unstructured":"HagellAAssociation for Young People's HealthPromoting young people's health literacy and understanding their help-seeking behaviour2021-05-27http:\/\/www.youngpeopleshealth.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/628_Health-literacy-EE-format-Updated-by-AH-march.pdf"},{"key":"ref38","unstructured":"Plain-language summaries: journals and other organizations that produce plain-language summarieseLIFE20172021-05-27https:\/\/elifesciences.org\/inside-elife\/5ebd9a3f\/plain-language-summaries-journals-and-other-organizations-that-produce-plain-language-summaries"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hsr2.175"},{"key":"ref40","unstructured":"RowlandsGBondBShayMThe Information Standard Workshop: Understanding Health Literacy \u2013 best practice in developing and testing health and care informationThe Information Standard201310102021-05-27LondonNHS Englandhttps:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/tis-standard-health-literacy-wrkshp-handout-101013.pdf"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11999-010-1380-y"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0224697"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/annrheumdis-2012-201960"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/jnnp-2013-305450"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/bjd.15021"},{"key":"ref46","unstructured":"The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals2021-09-09http:\/\/www.ismpp.org\/"}],"container-title":["Journal of Medical Internet Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2022\/1\/e22122","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T17:30:33Z","timestamp":1782840633000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2022\/1\/e22122"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,11]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/22122","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.2196\/preprints.22122","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1438-8871"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1438-8871","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,11]]}}}