Assessing the readability and patient comprehension of rheumatology medicine information sheets: a cross-sectional Health Literacy Study

BMJ Open
Michael OliffePeter K K Wong

Abstract

Patients are often provided with medicine information sheets (MIS). However, up to 60% of patients have low health literacy. The recommended readability level for health-related information is ≤grade 8. We sought to assess the readability of MIS given to patients by rheumatologists in Australia, the UK and Canada and to examine Australian patient comprehension of these documents. Cross-sectional study. Community-based regional rheumatology practice. Random sample of patients attending the rheumatology practice. Readability of MIS was assessed using readability formulae (Flesch Reading Ease formula, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook scale, FORCAST (named after the authors FORd, CAylor, STicht) and the Gunning Fog scale). Literal comprehension was assessed by asking patients to read various Australian MIS and immediately answer five simple multiple choice questions about the MIS. The mean (±SD) grade level for the MIS from Australia, the UK and Canada was 11.6±0.1, 11.8±0.1 and 9.7±0.1 respectively. The Flesch Reading Ease score for the Australian (50.8±0.6) and UK (48.5±1.5) MIS classified the documents as 'fairly difficult' to 'difficult'. The Canadian MIS (66.1±1.0) were classified as 'standard'. The five questions assessing comp...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 21, 2020·International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases·Peter K K Wong
Feb 3, 2021·Journal of Korean Medical Science·Mrudula Joshi, Latika Gupta
Dec 22, 2020·Medical Teacher·Sergio Hernandez-SanchezCarlos Lozano-Quijada
Mar 7, 2021·Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy : RSAP·Okti Ratna MafruhahHsiang-Wen Lin
Dec 3, 2021·Clinical and Experimental Dermatology·W T N HuntUNKNOWN British Association of Dermatologists’ Clinical Standards Unit

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Software Mentioned

GraphPad
GraphPad Prism
Studio
STATA
Readability Studio
Oleander
FORCAST
Readability

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