The readability of American Academy of Pediatrics patient education brochures.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the readability of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) patient education brochures.


METHODS
Seventy-four brochures were analyzed using two readability formulas.


RESULTS
Mean readability for all 74 brochures was grade 7.94 using the Flesch-Kincaid formula, and grade 10.1 with SMOG formula (P = .001). Using the SMOG formula, no brochures were of acceptably low (< or =8th grade) readability levels (range 8.3 to 12.7). Using the Flesch-Kincaid formula, 41 of the 74 had acceptable readability levels (< or =8th grade). The SMOG formula routinely assessed brochures 2 to 3 grade levels higher than did the Flesch-Kincaid formula.


CONCLUSIONS
Some AAP patient education brochures have acceptably low levels of readability, but at least half are written at higher than acceptable readability levels for the general public. This study also demonstrated statistically significant variability between the two different readability formulas; had only the SMOG formula been used, all of the brochures would have had unacceptably high readability levels. Readability is an essential concept for patient education materials. Professional associations that develop and market patient education materials should test for readability and publish those readability levels on each piece of patient education so health care providers will know if the materials are appropriate for their patients.
Freda
Margaret Comerford
MC
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. margaretfreda@yahoo.com
D032882:Comprehension; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D010174:Pamphlets; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D010372:Pediatrics; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014481:United States