Readability statistics of patient information leaflets in a Speech and Language Therapy Department

Background: Information leaflets are commonly used in Speech and Language Therapy Departments. Despite widespread use, they can be of variable quality.Aims: To revise current departmental leaflets using the National Health Service (NHS) Toolkit for Producing Patient Information and to test the effect that this has on the readability scores of the text.Methods & Procedures: Twenty existing leaflets were revised with the help of the NHS Toolkit for Producing Patient Information. Readability statistics were calculated for each leaflet before and after revision.Outcomes & Results: The mean Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) score and the Flesch–Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKRGL) were significantly better in the revised leaflets (p<0.01 and <0.01, respectively). The variability of readability outcome measures was lower in the revised group. Only 25% of the original leaflets met recommended levels of readability, while 75% of the revised leaflets met these standards.Conclusions: Readability is a vital component to consider in the production of information leaflets. Following simple guidelines on the production of leaflets for patients considerably improves their quality.