"User-testing" as a method for testing the fitness-for-purpose of written medicine information

Objective

Written medicine information is essential to support spoken information from pharmacists, but must be fit-for-purpose. This study applied “user testing” to the booklet supplied to UK patients taking anticoagulant medicines.

Methods

“User testing” uses mixed-methods, applied iteratively, to assess document performance - can people find and understand key points of information through a questionnaire and short semi-structured interview. The booklet was tested in 3 rounds of 10 people. After each round it was revised according to participants’ responses, and re-tested.

Results

The first round questionnaire identified problems with 6/18 information points (booklet purpose; other information; what affected daily doses; effect of ibuprofen; tablet colour; drinking alcohol); interviews raised further issues. The booklet was revised and, in the second testing round, one problem identified (changing doses of other medicines); the interviews raised fewer issues. After further re-wording and re-design, a third round showed all questions found and understood by at least 8/10 participants.

Conclusion

User testing assesses whether people can find and understand key information and can be applied using small numbers of participants. Application to medicine information can markedly improve performance.

Practice implications

Information producers should consider user testing to ensure documents are ‘fit for purpose’ in informing patients.