Processing fluency effects: Can the content and presentation of participant information sheets influence recruitment and participation for an antenatal intervention?: Can the content and presentation of participant information sheets influence recruitment and participation for an antenatal intervention?

Objective: To assess the extent to which the title and font of participant information sheets (PISs) can influence pregnant women's and trainee midwives' perceptions of an antenatal intervention. Methods: Pregnant women (. n=. 35) and trainee midwives (. n=. 36) were randomly presented with one of four PISs where the title and font of the PIS had been manipulated to create four experimental conditions (i.e., Double Fluent; Double Awkward; Fluent Title-Awkward Font; Awkward Title-Fluent Font). After reading the PIS, participants rated their perceptions of the intervention (i.e., Attractiveness, Complexity, Expected Risk, Required Effort) using five-point Likert scales. Results: A 4. ×. 2 factorial multivariate analysis of variance revealed that pregnant women rated the Double Awkward condition as significantly more complex than the Double Fluent (. p=..024) and Awkward Title-Fluent Font (. p=.021) conditions. Conclusion: Font influenced pregnant women's ratings of intervention complexity. Practice implications: Results have implications for ethical recruitment, and in turn, the optimisation of corresponding interventions.