Evaluation of the readability of ACOG patient education pamphlets. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether ACOG's patient education pamphlets comply with the recommended readability level for health education materials intended for the general public.


METHODS
All 100 English-language pamphlets available during 1997 (created or revised between 1988 and 1997) were evaluated using four standard readability formulas.


RESULTS
Mean readability levels of ACOG's pamphlets were between grade 7.0 to grade 9.3, depending on the formula used. Analysis of readability over the 10 years showed a trend toward lower readability levels. Analysis by category of pamphlet found that the lowest readability levels were in "Especially for teens" pamphlets.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggested that most of ACOG's patient education pamphlets currently available are written at a higher readability level than recommended for the general public. The readability of those pamphlets improved in the 10 years since the organization published its first pamphlet, but the goal of sixth-grade readability level has not been reached.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA. freda@aecom.yu.edu
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011932:Reading