Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
Ir J Med Sci. 2011 Mar;180(1):139-42. doi: 10.1007/s11845-010-0624-x. Epub 2010 Nov 3.
Limited literacy is associated with a nearly twofold increase in mortality in older patients.
The aim was to assess the readability level of patient information leaflets in Ireland.
The SMOG formula is a validated tool to assess readability of text, providing an estimate of the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing. We evaluated 45 common patient information leaflets for older people, and compared them to newspapers.
The mean readability level of the patient education leaflets was 12.57 (range 9.4-16.33). The mean readability level of broadsheet newspapers was 12. A majority of patient education materials are written at an excessively high readability level.
Patient education information should be aimed at an appropriate level for the target audience. This is of particular relevance in the older population, who are at a higher risk of inadequate or marginal health literacy.
有限的文化程度与老年患者的死亡率增加近两倍有关。
评估爱尔兰患者信息传单的可读性水平。
SMOG 公式是一种评估文本可读性的有效工具，可估算理解一篇文章所需的教育年限。我们评估了 45 种常见的老年人患者信息传单，并将其与报纸进行了比较。
患者教育传单的平均可读性水平为 12.57（范围为 9.4-16.33）。大报的平均可读性水平为 12。大多数患者教育材料的可读性水平过高。
患者教育信息应针对目标受众的适当水平。这在老年人群中尤为重要，因为他们处于健康素养不足或边缘的风险更高。
