title: Readability of advance directive documents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the readability of advance directive documents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience, 10 advance directive documents from various sources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Advance directive documents were electronically scanned in 1994 then evaluated using three readability formulas: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Score, and Gunning's Fog Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average readability (in school grade levels) of the 10 documents was 11.3 using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level and 18.2 using the Gunning's Fog Index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All documents were above reading levels usually recommended for patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients must be able to read and understand advance directive documents before signing them. Refinement of the documents is recommended to support patient understanding and autonomy in end-of-life care.
authors.affiliation: Villanova University, College of Nursing, PA 19085, USA.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hardie
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D004522:Educational Status; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011932:Reading; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards*