Readability of CAMHS clinical letters

Sending clinical letters to patients is common practice in CAMHS. Ease of reading and understanding is important for patients. Readability formulae are feasible and quick ways to assess this.

Clinical letters sent to patients were analysed for readability and whether they reached a preset threshold. Factors influencing readability were investigated.

Most letters were less easily readable than is appropriate. Letters written directly to patients were more readable than copied letters.

Patients sometimes receive letters that are unlikely to be easily readable. Word processing packages contain readability formulae that could be used to check and improve readability of letters.