- Use a landscape format. Using a landscape paper format to present the information as participants in the eye-tracking study consistently looked at the left-hand side first, initially focusing on the graph. This is consistent with the focus groups results and in turn, the prototype that is being used in the GP trial was developed in a landscape paper format.
- Use a bar graph to present the numerical information. Attention is naturally attracted to a graphical data display. The bar graph also needs to be meaningful in its own right, with headings, labels, and colours that help the reader to grasp meaning quickly. The bar graph should ideally be inserted in the left-hand side of the prototype. These guidelines were largely supported by the focus group results and implemented in the prototype that is being used in the GP trial.
- Use short, direct, and clear sentences to express information about the disease. Participants in our CALD sample well understood this information if it was written using these principles.
- Include eye damage and heart attack/stroke risks in the prototype. These two risks appear to be the most remembered risks. Gum disease risk was excluded, as it was the least remembered risk. This was also supported by the focus groups data for the CALD groups and implemented in the prototype that is being used in the GP trial.
- Present risks using both experiential (case-studies) style (using images format) and utilitarian style. Our results showed that the way in which risks are presented appears to be unrelated to the memory of these risks. However, the results also showed that individuals tended to spend less time examining the risk of eye damage and they remembered it more if it is written using experiential (case-studies) style. Therefore, it is preferable to present the eye damage risk and/or any other memorable risks (e.g. stroke/heart attack) using experiential (case-studies) style (using images format). However in the GP trials much of the narrative information was cut on recommendation of the GP focus groups. Results from the trials will indicate whether or not this was effective.