Readability of advance directive documents.
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.
Ott
B B
BB
Villanova University, College of Nursing, PA 19085, USA.
Hardie
T L
TL
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*