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Readability and comprehensibility of the "exercise lite" brochure
1Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 1, 1995
Summary
The Exercise Lite brochure, intended for the general public, was written at a college reading level. Most participants could not understand the exercise information without additional help.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Exercise Science
- Health Communication
Background:
- Exercise literature often uses complex language, making it inaccessible to the intended audience.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and American College of Sports Medicine developed the "Exercise Lite" brochure to promote physical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the readability and comprehensibility of the "Exercise Lite" brochure.
- To determine if the brochure's writing style matches the general public's reading ability.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: Readability of the brochure was evaluated using four established readability formulas.
- Study 2: Comprehension of the brochure's content was tested on 56 participants with varying educational backgrounds.
Main Results:
- Readability assessments indicated the brochure was written at a level comparable to scientific journal articles.
- Nearly 70% of participants found the brochure incomprehensible without supplemental instruction, despite most being college graduates.
Conclusions:
- The "Exercise Lite" brochure's complex language hinders its effectiveness in communicating exercise recommendations to the public.
- Readability and audience comprehension should be prioritized in public health communication materials to ensure accessibility and impact.