Evaluation of health checkup reports from consumer perspectives

Abstract

 Objective: To evaluate five different types of health checkup reports for understanding consumer preferences.
 Methods: The following health checkup report samples were prepared: sample A- mark abnormal findings and give advice at the end; sample B-grade each item using the alphabet coding system; sample C-grade each item using the Japanese coding system; sample D-present a list of item grades; and sample E-indicate the overall risk level at the beginning and give advice in order of descending priorities. A web-based survey was conducted among 424 Japanese adults aged 35-59 years. Participants, randomly divided into four groups, were asked to evaluate two of the health checkup report samples in terms of intelligibility, comprehensibility, and design quality (information volume, organization, attractiveness, helpfulness, tone, size, and spacing).
 Results: Regardless of the type of health checkup report, less than 40% of participants could point out all abnormal findings in the health checkup report. Compared with the sample A, the sample B rated higher in intelligibility, comprehensibility, and the four design quality items (information volume, organization, attractiveness, tone, and size). Compared with the sample B, the sample C rated higher in intelligibility, comprehensibility, and the four design quality items (information volume, organization, attractiveness, and helpfulness). Compared with the sample B, the sample D rated higher in the two design quality items (information volume and size), but no significant differences were found in intelligibility or comprehensibility. Compared with the sample C, the sample E rated higher in intelligibility, comprehensibility, and all design quality items. More than 80% of participants given the sample E agreed that they should take risk reduction measures as soon as possible.
 Conclusion: The sample E topped the overall rating, followed in the order of the samples C, B, D, and A. According to the results of this study, health checkup reports had better satisfy the following conditions: indicate the overall risk level at the beginning; give advice in order of descending priorities; and grade each item using the Japanese coding system.