An evaluation of readable preventive health messages

Area of Science:

• Health behavior research
• Patient education strategies
• Preventive healthcare interventions

Background:

• Printed preventive health materials often fail to change patient behavior.
• Material ineffectiveness may stem from poor readability or lack of patient engagement.
• Personalizing health information to individual educational levels is a potential solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if computer-generated, readability-matched preventive health booklets improve patient behavior.
• To evaluate the impact of tailored educational materials on uptake of specific preventive health services.

Main Methods:

• A computer program generated patient-specific booklets using SMOG and Spache readability scores.
• Booklets were matched to patients' self-reported educational levels.
• Intervention group (81 patients) received tailored materials; control group (213 patients) did not.
• Outcomes measured included flexible sigmoidoscopy, diphtheria-tetanus boosters, and cholesterol screening rates after three months.

Main Results:

• No significant increase in flexible sigmoidoscopy, diphtheria-tetanus boosters, or cholesterol screening was observed in the intervention group compared to controls.
• Readability-matched patient education materials did not lead to improved preventive health behaviors within the study period.

Conclusions:

• While matching health materials to patient readability is a logical approach, it was not sufficient to drive behavioral change in this study.
• Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for improving patient adherence to preventive health recommendations.