A summary to communicate evidence from systematic reviews to the public improved understanding and accessibility of information: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a new format of a summary, which presents research from synthesized evidence to patients and the public. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 143 members of the public from five countries (Canada, Norway, Spain, Argentina, and Italy). Participants received either a new summary format (a plain language summary [PLS]) or the current format used in Cochrane systematic reviews. The new PLS …