1. 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
REALM /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
Kirsch I, et al. Adult Literacy in America. U.S. Department of Education
Arouzullah AM, et al. Med Care
Baker DW, et al. Patient Educ Couns