Differences in memory, perceptions, and preferences of multimedia consumer medication information: Experimental performance and self-report study

Abstract

Background: Electronic health resources are becoming prevalent. However, consumer medication information (CMI) is still predominantly text based. Incorporating multimedia into CMI (eg, images, narration) may improve consumers' memory of the information as well as their perceptions and preferences of these materials. Objective: This study examined whether adding images and narration to CMI impacted patients' (1) memory, (2) perceptions of comprehensibility, utility, or design quality, and (3) overall preferences. Methods: We presented 36 participants with CMI in 3 formats: (1) text, (2) text + images, and (3) narration + images, and subsequently asked them to recall information. After seeing all 3 CMI formats, participants rated the formats in terms of comprehensibility, utility, and design quality, and ranked them from most to least favorite. Results: Interestingly, no significant differences in memory were observed (F2,70=0.1, P=0.901). Thus, this study did not find evidence to support multimedia or modality principles in the context of CMI. Despite the absence of effects on memory, the CMI format significantly impacted perceptions of the materials. Specifically, participants rated the text + images format highest in terms of comprehensibility (χ22=26.5, P