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E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
An analysis of the readability of Gynecologic Cancer patient education materials
Bridget S Dillon1, Olivia Hood2, Shreya Chanda2
1University of Minnesota, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Objective:
The National Institute of Health (NIH) and American Medical Association (AMA) recommend patient education material be written at or below a 7th grade reading level. The objective of this study was to assess the reading level of gynecologic cancer patient education material published by National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers (NCI-DCCs) and patient-directed non-profit organizations (NPOs).
Methods:
We identified online patient education material related to ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancer from NCI-DCCs and NPOs. We calculated the Flesch-Kincaid reading level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Coleman-Liau reading level using the three online calculators. Results were compared with linear mixed models.
Results:
We identified 61 NCI-DCCs and 6 NPOs with patient focused information regarding cervical, ovarian, uterine, vulvar, and vaginal cancer. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) FKGL across all NCI-DCCs (n = 202) was 10.2 (1.9). Only 5.4% were at or below a 7th grade reading level for any gynecologic cancer. The FKGL from the NPOs (n = 29) was 10.0 (1.9), with 0% at or below a 7th grade reading level. The average Coleman-Liau and SMOG reading levels were also higher than a 6-7th grade reading level for both NPOs and NCI-DCCs.
Conclusion:
Only 5.4% of NCI-DCC's and 0% of NPO's patient education sites for gynecologic cancers are at the recommended reading level of the NIH and AMA, and the majority were at or above a high school reading level. NCI-DCCs and NPOs should improve the readability of their patient education materials to ensure all patients can understand their disease.
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