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Readability of Patient Handout Materials in a Nationwide Sample of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Programs
Author(s) -
Greenfield Shelly F.,
Sugarman Dawn E.,
Nargiso Jessica,
Weiss Roger D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490591003666
Subject(s) - readability , directory , sample (material) , substance abuse , grade level , reading level , drug , medicine , family medicine , psychology , computer science , psychiatry , mathematics education , chemistry , chromatography , programming language , operating system
The objective of this study was to assess the readability of a nationwide sample of alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs' materials. Of 646 programs that were randomly selected from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information directory, 52 programs returned completed materials. The average readability grade level of materials was 11.84 (SD = 0.94). The program staff estimations were significantly lower than actual reading levels of materials, and no program characteristics correlated with readability levels. Thus, it was concluded that materials written at high readability levels may not be effective tools for all patients. Integrating knowledge regarding program materials' readability level and literacy levels of different populations could be successful aides to substance abuse treatment.