TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of commonly available education materials in heart failure clinics
AU - Taylor-Clarke, Kimberli
AU - Henry-Okafor, Queen
AU - Murphy, Clare
AU - Keyes, Madeline
AU - Rothman, Russell
AU - Churchwell, Andre
AU - Mensah, George A.
AU - Sawyer, Douglas
AU - Sampson, Uchechukwu K.A.
PY - 2012/11
Y1 - 2012/11
N2 - BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is an established independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. Approximately 90 million Americans have limited HL and read at the fifth grade level or lower. Therefore, we sought to determine the suitability and readability level of common cardiovascular patient education materials (PEM) related to heart failure and heart-healthy lifestyle. METHODS AND RESULTS: The suitability and readability of written PEMs were assessed using the suitability assessment of materials (SAM) and Fry readability formula. The SAM criteria are composed of the following categories: message content, text appearance, visuals, and layout and design. We obtained a convenience sample of 18 English-written cardiovascular PEMs freely available from major health organizations. Two reviewers independently appraised the PEMs. Final suitability scores ranged from 12% to 87%. Readability levels ranged between 3rd and 15th grade level; the average readability level was 8th grade. Ninety-four percent of the PEMs were rated either superior or adequate on text appearance, but 50% or more of the PEMs were rated inadequate on each of the other categories of the SAM criteria. Only 2 (11%) PEMs had the optimum suitability score of 70% or higher and 5th grade or lower readability level suitable for populations with limited HL. CONCLUSIONS: Commonly available cardiovascular PEMs used by some major healthcare institutions are not suitable for the average American patient. The true prevalence of suboptimal PEMs needs to be determined because it potentially negatively impacts optimal healthcare delivery and outcomes.
AB - BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is an established independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. Approximately 90 million Americans have limited HL and read at the fifth grade level or lower. Therefore, we sought to determine the suitability and readability level of common cardiovascular patient education materials (PEM) related to heart failure and heart-healthy lifestyle. METHODS AND RESULTS: The suitability and readability of written PEMs were assessed using the suitability assessment of materials (SAM) and Fry readability formula. The SAM criteria are composed of the following categories: message content, text appearance, visuals, and layout and design. We obtained a convenience sample of 18 English-written cardiovascular PEMs freely available from major health organizations. Two reviewers independently appraised the PEMs. Final suitability scores ranged from 12% to 87%. Readability levels ranged between 3rd and 15th grade level; the average readability level was 8th grade. Ninety-four percent of the PEMs were rated either superior or adequate on text appearance, but 50% or more of the PEMs were rated inadequate on each of the other categories of the SAM criteria. Only 2 (11%) PEMs had the optimum suitability score of 70% or higher and 5th grade or lower readability level suitable for populations with limited HL. CONCLUSIONS: Commonly available cardiovascular PEMs used by some major healthcare institutions are not suitable for the average American patient. The true prevalence of suboptimal PEMs needs to be determined because it potentially negatively impacts optimal healthcare delivery and outcomes.
KW - cardiovascular diseases
KW - health literacy
KW - patient education
KW - patient education materials
KW - suitability and readability
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U2 - 10.1097/JCN.0b013e318220720c
DO - 10.1097/JCN.0b013e318220720c
M3 - Article
C2 - 21743339
AN - SCOPUS:84867879246
SN - 0889-4655
VL - 27
SP - 485
EP - 494
JO - Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
JF - Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
IS - 6
ER -