READING-SKILLS OF DIETETIC INTERNS AND READABILITY OF DIETETICS LITERATURE

Objective To assess and compare reading skills of dietetic interns wit h reading levels of internship references. Design A standardized readi ng test, the Nebon-Denny Reading Test, measured reading skills of ente ring dietetic interns over 7 years. A computerized readability program assessed the readability of references. Setting Dietetic internships in university and Veterans Affairs hospitals. Subjects Of 194 entering interns, 178 (92%) were included and 16 (8%) were omitted. Main outco me measures Nelson-Denny percentile and grade equivalent scores for vo cabulary, comprehension, and total. The Fog Index identified reference reading-grade levels. Statistical analyses performed Descriptive stat istics and analysis of variance. Results interns from the two programs did not differ significantly on Nelson-Denny Reading Test scores or i n application grade point average. Percentile means and standard devia tions were 54.7+/-23.8 for vocabulary, 51.2+/-25.0 for comprehension, 52.9+/-23.9 for total, and 41.6+/-24.7 for reading rate. Nearly 20% (3 3 of 178) of interns read significantly below expected grade level. Th e Fog Index assigned reference grade levels from 6.98 to 21.63 years. Conclusions The majority of dietetic interns have strong reading skill s and read within the references' reading levels. A minority may exper ience difficulties reading assignments. Preinternship reading skills a ssessment could lead to greater success in reading professional litera ture.