A Comparison of Patients Literacy Level and

A Comparison of Patients’ Literacy Level and the Readability of Patient Education Handouts a, Samantha Prabakaranb, and Julia Fashner, MDc Sabrina Prabakaran a Medical Student, Morsani College of Medicine, USF b Junior, Pre-Med, Honors College, USF BACKGROUND Matching the health related reading material to patients’ health numeracy and literacy level will assist them in understanding their own care. c Associate Director, FSU-COM, Family Medicine Residency at Lee Memorial Health System RESULTS from previous study N= 56 (31 female, 25 male) PURPOSE OF STUDY 1. To determine the readability of medical handouts available to patients who visit the FSU College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Clinic at Lee Memorial Hospital. 2. To determine if the readability level matches the level of health literacy of the patients attending the clinic. RESEARCH DESIGN INCLUSION: Handouts available in the following areas were collected and included in study: a. FMR Clinic waiting room. b. LMHS cafeteria c. Near elevators d. Patient care hallways, e. Medical and surgical waiting rooms. f. Medical Office Center. DURATION OF COLLECTION: July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014 Handouts were transcribed into a Word document without changing any syntax or punctuation. Proofing review was run to determine the Flesch-Kincade grade level. TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008 www. Poster. Presentations. com Reading level Care Management 11. 5 Pain Management Centers 11. 4 Pulmonary Rehabilitation Handouts for medical care written at a 10 th grade level or higher level, and most adults read at an 8 th and 9 th grade level, with up to 23% reading at a 1, 2 5 th grade or lower level. Handout 12 Rehabiliation Services 12 Trauma Mentors 11. 6 Balance Clinic 12 Behavior Health Services 12 Convenient Care 12 Medical Dispensing Services 12 Orthopedic Navigation Services 12 Outpatient imaging services Lee Would Care and Hyperbaric Medicine 11. 8 House Calls 10. 9 Lee Memorial Hospital 12 Full Circle 10. 1 Lee Memorial Home Health 12 Choices 10 Outpatient Rehabilitation Services 11 Share Club 10 Lee Lab Services 8 Family Medicine 12 Sleep Disorders Center 11 3 REALM S-TOFHLA 4 Mean score 65/66 n=30 34/36 n=25 No significant difference for test results when comparing gender, age, educational status or overall health status. 11. 3 Endoscopy 10 The Blood Centers of Lee Memorial Health System 12 My. Chart Mean age - 55 years old Mean education - some college Mean overall health - good 11 CONCLUSIONS The readability level of the patient education handouts that are provided to the patient’s attending the FMR Clinic was equal to the patient literacy level based on our sample. Asthma health management program 12 Patient Information The Spine Center 12 10 AVERAGE 11. 3 REFERENCES 1. Doak CC, et al. Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills. 1996. 2. Kirsch I, et al. Adult Literacy in America. U. S. Department of Education. 1993. 3. Arouzullah AM, et al. Med Care. 2007. 4. Baker DW, et al. Patient Educ Couns. 1999.