Preparation and readability assessment of patient information leaflets for diabetic foot ulcers

Abstract

Context: Patient counseling is the mainstay for prevention and management of diabetic foot ulcer. Hence, patient information leaflet (PIL) can act as an educational material for imparting patient education regarding diabetic foot care for better patient outcome.Aim: The objective of this study was to develop and to assess the readability of PIL for diabetic foot ulcer.Materials and Methods: Various online resources such as Patient UK and Micromedex data base were used to prepare PILs on diabetic foot ulcer. Physicians were validated the content of the leaflet. Leaflet was designed and modified according to the physician's suggestions. PILs-readability was checked online by using the website www.readability-score.com and calculated Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FK-GL). Layout and design features of the PILs were assessed by using Baker Able Leaflets Design (BALD) method.Results: Readability of the leaflet was assessed by using the FRE and FK-GL scores. After initial assessment leaflets were modified to achieve ideal readability scores. The best FRE score achieved was 69.9 and FK-GL score achieved was 7.1. The BALD score was 27.Conclusions: PILs prepared had ideal readability score and layout design. The leaflet's estimated FRE and FK-GL scores rate showed that it was fairly easy readable.

Development and Evaluation of Patient Information Leaflet for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients

“…The PIL developed in this study scored > 25 in both English and Kannada versions and were similar to an English PIL prepared by the authors in a previous study (16). …”

“…The FK-GL of the PIL gave a score of 6.1, which approximately equates to a reading age of between 11 and 12 years old. A previous study on readability of PIL for DFU reported a FK-GL score of 7.1 (16). Gunning-Fog index estimates the years of formal education needed to understand written text on a first reading.…”

“…The only previous study in India, conducted on PIL for DFU, was “Preparation and readability assessment of patient information leaflets for diabetic foot ulcers” by Roy et al, in which the readability formula method was employed (16). …”

“…A similar SMOG index was reported in a previous study (16). Automated Readability Index (ARI), which rates the understandability of the text, was 5.9, which equates to upper primary school level (6 th grade), age 11 to 12 years (16, 24, 25). …”

Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Counselling and Education on Quality of Life in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

“…In the present study, the design and layout of the PILs was assessed using BALD criteria and the scores were 25 for English and Malayalam, and 26 for Kannada PILs. The scoring was fair with respect to the scoring done in PIL's made in similar studies conducted by Adepu R et al, Roy RT et al and Mateti UV et al 5,6,8 The BALD score of the PIL in the study by Adepu R et al was 22, Roy RT et al was 27 and Mateti UV et al was 28 (English) and 26 (Kannada). 5,6,8 Our study results revealed that the occurrence of ACS was more predominant in male population than female population between the two groups.…”