How readable are the hospital information leaflets available to elderly patients?

The readability of 70 hospital information leaflets was compared with that of outside publications. Clarify of language was assessed by calculation of a 'reading score' for each document using the Gunning FOG test. Layout was assessed in terms of typeface, style of print and use of illustrations. Reading scores were generally satisfactory and illustrations were used effectively in most cases. However, seven (10%) of the leaflets had scores of 14 and above (equivalent to the British Medical Journal). Only 12 (17%) of the leaflets met the recommendations of the Royal National Institute for the Blind for size of typeface. The Gunning FOG test provides a reasonable assessment of readability. Documents scoring 12 and over may be incomprehensible, particularly to elderly patients.