Readability of Postconcussion Home Care Instructions

Abstract

Patient education materials should be written at or below a fifth grade reading level. Postconcussion home care instructions outline what signs/symptoms warrant a visit to the emergency department and actions that should be taken/not taken by the caregiver. The purpose of this study was to determine the readability of postconcussion home care instructions provided by national organizations seen as setting the standard of care. Readability analyses were performed using the Readability Studio 2019 Standard Edition, by Oleander Software (Oleander Solutions). All postconcussion home care instructions were written above the recommended reading grade level. Poor comprehension of written material may lead to poor health outcomes; therefore, those organizations should consider amending handouts to meet the recommended reading level. Athletic trainers should examine the readability of home care instructions they provide, use both written and verbal instructions, and ensure caregiver understanding by using the skills in the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit.