Relevant Literature Identified

From the search, relevant papers in terms of content were considered. In addition, the following ten literature review papers were used as a base reference for a comprehensive review of information design and communication.

1. Choi (2011) reviews the literature on using pictographs in discharge instructions for older adults with low-literacy skills. In total, 44 articles were reviewed and analysed
2. Edwards et al. (2008) review the literature on interventions to improve risk communication in clinical genetics. Twenty-eight studies were included, principally from cancer genetics.
3. Houts et al. (2006) review the literature on the role of pictures in improving health communication and its impact on attention, comprehension, recall, and adherence. All peer reviewed studies in health education, psychology, education, and marketing journals were reviewed (at least 239 papers).
4. Johnson et al. (2003) review the literature on written and verbal information versus verbal information only for patients being discharged from acute hospital settings to home. Computerised searches from 1990 to September 2005 and found only 2 papers satisfied the criteria.
5. Mulsow et al. (in press) review the literature on how to improve understanding in surgical patients. All retrieved peer-reviewed studies were included in the review.
6. Trevena et al. (2006) review the literature on communicating with patients about evidence. 40 papers were included and reviewed.
7. Watson and McKinstry (2009) review the literature on interventions to improve recall of medical advice in healthcare consultations. From 69 papers provisionally identified, 34 papers met the inclusion criteria and therefore reviewed.
8. Wilson and Wolf (2009) review the literature on working memory and the design of health materials. A selective review of relevant cognitive and learning theories was discussed with regard to their potential impact on the optimal design of health materials.

In addition, specific review of bibliography in the following two articles was undertaken:

1. Valenstein PN (2008). Formatting pathology reports: applying four design principles to improve communication and patient safety. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 132(1): 84–94.
2. Powsner SM, Costa J, Homer RJ. Clinicians are from Mars and pathologists are from Venus: clinician interpretation of pathology reports. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000; 124:1040–1046.

There was limited specific literature on presentation formats for CALD consumers but we derived some findings from related literature. It was presumed also that where presentation formats are more appropriate for encouraging retention and understanding in all consumers there would be a flow-on effect on CALD consumers that can then be enhanced by incorporating features which may be specifically beneficial for CALD consumers.