ARE INFORMATION LEAFLETS GIVEN TO ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH DIABETES EASY TO READ

This study examined 15 different leaflets routinely given to elderly p atients in the diabetes unit of a teaching hospital. It used (1) a Fog Index to give a rough guide of readability, and(2) examined the size and style of print. Results were compared with those of information le aflets taken from the hospitals' acute elderly care unit, rehabilitati on unit, physiotherapy department, day hospital and outpatients depart ment. Seven out of a total 70 leaflets (10 %) were as hard to read as the British Medical Journal. None of these came from the diabetes unit , which may be because the diabetes leaflets were prepared by educator s with considerable experience in communicating with patients. However , the authors' awareness of the need to use simple language was greate r than their awareness of the need to use legible type. Eleven of the 15 leaflets from the diabetes unit (73 %) failed to meet guidelines su ggested by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, a rate which di ffered little from the overall rate (77 %). These findings suggest tha t those responsible for producing patient information should be more a ware of the principles of effective written communication.