RESULTS from previous study A Comparison of Patients’ Literacy Level and the Readability of Patient Education Handouts Sabrina Prabakarana, Samantha Prabakaranb, and Julia Fashner,MDc a Medical Student, Morsani College of Medicine, USF b Junior, Pre-Med, Honors College, USF c Associate Director, FSU-COM, Family Medicine Residency at Lee Memorial Health System BACKGROUND RESULTS RESULTS from previous study Matching the health related reading material to patients’ health numeracy and literacy level will assist them in understanding their own care. Handouts for medical care are written at a 10th grade level or higher level, and most adults read at an 8th and 9th grade level, with up to 23% reading at a 5th grade or lower level.1,2 N= 56 (31 female, 25 male) Mean age - 55 years old Mean education - some college Mean overall health - good Mean score REALM3 65/66 n=30 S-TOFHLA4 34/36 n=25 No significant difference for test results when comparing gender, age, educational status or overall health status. Handout Reading level Care Management 11.5 Pain Management Centers 11.4 Pulmonary Rehabilitation 12 Rehabiliation Services Trauma Mentors 11.6 Balance Clinic Behavior Health Services Convenient Care Medical Dispensing Services Orthopedic Navigation Services Outpatient imaging services 11.8 Lee Would Care and Hyperbaric Medicine 11.3 House Calls 10.9 Lee Memorial Hospital Full Circle 10.1 Lee Memorial Home Health Choices 10 Outpatient Rehabilitation Services 11 Share Club Lee Lab Services 8 Family Medicine Sleep Disorders Center Endoscopy The Blood Centers of Lee Memorial Health System MyChart Asthma health management program Patient Information The Spine Center AVERAGE PURPOSE OF STUDY To determine the readability of medical handouts available to patients who visit the FSU College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Clinic at Lee Memorial Hospital. To determine if the readability level matches the level of health literacy of the patients attending the clinic. RESEARCH DESIGN CONCLUSIONS INCLUSION: Handouts available in the following areas were collected and included in study: FMR Clinic waiting room. LMHS cafeteria Near elevators Patient care hallways, Medical and surgical waiting rooms. Medical Office Center. DURATION OF COLLECTION: July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014 Handouts were transcribed into a Word document without changing any syntax or punctuation. Proofing review was run to determine the Flesch-Kincade grade level. The readability level of the patient education handouts that are provided to the patient’s attending the FMR Clinic was equal to the patient literacy level based on our sample.   REFERENCES Doak CC, et al. Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills. 1996. Kirsch I, et al. Adult Literacy in America. U.S. Department of Education. 1993. Arouzullah AM, et al. Med Care. 2007. Baker DW, et al. Patient Educ Couns. 1999.