READABILITY OF PRINTED SOURCES OF DIET AND HEALTH INFORMATION

This study surveyed nutrition education materials which are low in cos t, brief and the type most used in patient education to determine whic h might be useful with low literacy clients. Readability of 209 pamphl ets from professional health organizations, commercial organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions was assessed using t hree different tests. Using the Flesch and Raygor tests, materials fro m educational institutions had significantly lower reading levels than materials from professional organizations and government agencies. No significant differences were seen among the sources using the Fry tes t. Sixty-eight percent (142) of the publications were written at ninth grade level or higher. Eleven percent (24) scored at sixth grade or b elow on either the Fry or Raygor scale. Only two publications were wri tten at the third grade level. Many of the publications reviewed can b e read and understood by many Americans, but there were few for the mi llions that have limited literacy skills.