Readability of subject information leaflets for medical research

Area of Science:

• Medical research ethics
• Health communication
• Scientific writing standards

Background:

• Patient comprehension is crucial for informed consent in medical research.
• Assessing the readability of research materials ensures accessibility for diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the readability of adult subject information leaflets with New Zealand newspaper editorials and popular magazine articles.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current readability assessment for research protocols.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 99 adult subject information leaflets from Auckland Area Health Board-approved projects (1991).
• Comparison with 9 randomly selected newspaper editorials and 9 popular magazine articles.
• Calculation of Flesch reading ease, Flesch-Kincaid, and Gunning fog indices using a computerised grammar checker.

Main Results:

• Subject information leaflets (median Flesch score: 53) were easier to read than newspaper editorials (median score: 48).
• Leaflets were significantly more difficult to read than popular magazine articles (median score: 67).
• Reading information leaflets required approximately Form 4 education level, compared to Form 5 for editorials and Form 1 for magazines.

Conclusions:

• The readability level of information leaflets for Auckland-based medical research appears satisfactory.
• Current review processes for research protocol readability are consistent and effective.
• Readability scores are a valuable tool for assessing written information accessibility.