Initial design principles were determined after the review of the relevant literature. These were then subject to refinement using information obtained by stakeholder consultation, focus groups, the eye-tracking test and clinical trials of the prototype.
Intentional selection of the content, tools, and formats of communicated information for maximum effect may impact on the attention, comprehension and recall of this information by health consumers. This may in turn impact on their adherence and behaviour in implementing what was communicated.
This project is focussed on improving pathology reports as a communication tool between physicians and patients with chronic diseases. Therefore, the design principles under consideration are those which can be applied to paper reports functioning as written communication tools. This excludes other potentially valuable communication tools such as verbal, video and internet-based communication.
The suggested format of the report may include plain text, images, diagrams, graphs and charts (pie, bar, line, pictograph), numbers and symbols. In light of the above literature review, we suggest several design principles.
- Use simple, short and plain language in the report to guide the reader and describe diagrams and pictographs
- Use pictographs to present any required specific actions. It is preferable for these pictographs to be horizontal and shaded as this presentation is perceived faster.
- Use bar graphs to present any numerical information. This improves accuracy of perception, and aids information recall.
- Use 2D graphs to present particularly complex information as they are better comprehended.
- Use Serif type font as it reinforces the horizontal eye flow and it is free of distractions.
- Use dark text on a light background to present any text information as it provides the best legibility.
- Add labels inside graphs to help colour-blind people to read the information clearly. Any colours used should not rely solely on a contrast between red and green, since this is a common form of colour-blindness.
- Where pictograph-based reports will be used by people from multiple cultures, the pictograph should be developed after consultations with a number of diverse groups and in ways that target the different requirements of specific groups.
- When communicating complex health information to individuals from multiple cultures it is helpful to use a system that couples visual forms such as icons with storytelling.
- The diversity within CALD communities is high, so the needs of the community members will be particularly diverse. In response, the research indicates that the embodiment of pathology data within the narrative structure of a story is a design technique well suited to communicating the necessary information to users.