How to improve the readability of the patient package leaflet: A survey onthe use of colour, print size and layout

This paper displays the results of the second part of a survey about patien t information and the use of the patient package leaflet. The aim of this r esearch is to investigate the consumers' attitude towards written informati on. As the formal aspects of the written message are very important in communic ation, we prepared a questionnaire in order to evaluate the attitude of pat ients towards some typographical modifications. Patients were invited to gi ve indications about which colours could be used in the different paragraph s of the package leaflet and which print size could be easily read. All people interviewed were asked to choose a colour, from six proposed by us, to be used for 'therapeutic indications', 'side effects', 'how to use', 'paediatric use', 'contraindications', 'use in pregnancy' and 'warnings'. Clear suggestions for the choice of colours for therapeutic indications, si de effects and contraindications arose from the survey. In the other cases there was no uniformity of answers. All people complained that the print si ze used in the package leaflet is too small and suggested 10 and 11 points Didot. Finally, from the survey it emerged that people would appreciate a m ore detailed package leaflet but information should be given in a schematic and concise way. (C)4 2001 Academic Press.