Use of a graphic design for oncology discharge instructions is preferred by pet owners over text-only instructions with identical readability.

Pet owners prefer graphic-design oncology discharge instructions over text-only formats and access materials primarily via smartphone.

This experimental survey-based study evaluated pet owner preferences for oncology discharge instruction formats among 78 analyzed respondents (from 82 responses out of 114 participants) whose pets were receiving chemotherapy at the Animal Medical Center in New York City between August 2024 and March 2025. Participants reviewed fictionalized oncology discharge instructions presented in two formats—text-only and graphic design—with identical content and readability scores. Preferences were assessed using the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool. Results demonstrated that 58% of pet owners preferred the graphic design format, 23% found both versions acceptable, and only 19% preferred text-only instructions. Notably, 96% of participants completed the survey via smartphone, underscoring the importance of mobile-compatible formatting for client education materials. The study's demographic profile mirrored published data on American pet owners, with the exception of a higher education level among participants, which the authors acknowledge as a limitation when generalizing findings. Key factors identified for effective pet owner education documents include readability, sentence structure, typography, and layout. The authors conclude that veterinary practices should prioritize graphic design elements and smartphone-optimized formatting when developing client education materials to improve comprehension and meet owner preferences. These findings are broadly applicable to oncology and general veterinary practice communication strategies across the United States.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.