Information Complexity and Medical Communication: The Effects of Technical Language and Amount of Information in a Medical Message

Abstract

This research examines whether different amounts of technical language and different amounts of medical information (as independent variables) affect receivers' cognitive satisfaction, comprehension, perception of the speaker's credibility, reported intent to comply with advice, and ability to recall information. Four cluster samples of university students each viewed a different videotaped message about mononucleosis, a disease this population is at risk for contracting. In each videotape, the independent variables were manipulated. Based on the responses of 95 subjects, the results indicate that (a) cognitive satisfaction, comprehension, and recall scores were substantially lower in the technical conditions than in the nontechnical conditions; (b) technical and nontechnical conditions did not distinguish subjects' reported intent to comply or perception of the speaker's credibility; and (c) amount of information was not related significantly to any of the five dependent variables. The implications of these findings for facilitating effective medical communication are discussed.