Reading Level of Drug Information Printouts: A Barrier to Effective Communication of Patient Medication Information

Abstract

This study examined the reading level of drug information printouts supplied by a hospital pharmacy, an outpatient clinic, and two retail pharmacies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant differences in reading level exist among various providers of patient medication information and whether these differences are a barrier to effective communication of patient medication information. The Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) index of readability was calculated for each sample to provide a grade-level indication of reading difficulty. The SMOG readability analysis predicts 90% to 100% comprehension and has been used extensively to analyze health-oriented literature. The results indicated a statistically significant difference among the reading level of medication printouts from four providers. Findings indicated that medication printouts were written 3.95 grade levels above the reading comprehension level of 90 million Americans, roughly 47% of the United States population. The reading level of drug information printouts is a barrier which may significantly impair or prevent these patients from receiving or being able to effectively utilize health care services, including prescription medications, which may be essential to their survival.