Meade, C. D., Byrd, J. C., & Lee, M. (1989). Improving patient comprehension of literature on smoking. American Journal of Public Health, 79(10), 1411-1412.

Meade, C.; Byrd, J. ; Lee, M.

1989

Meade, C. D., Byrd, J. C., & Lee, M. (1989). Improving patient comprehension of literature on smoking. American Journal of Public Health, 79(10), 1411-1412.

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This study was designed to determine if simplification of smoking literature improved patient comprehension. Subjects (N = 129) were randomized in three groups: to receive no smoking booklet, receive one written at the 5th grade, or the 10th grade reading level. Subjects receiving the 5th grade booklet showed 13 percent better comprehension than those receiving the 10th grade booklet, and 18 percent better than the controls. Comprehension of written smoking materials can be improved by adjustment of the reading grade level.

The score improvement (Postscore - Prescore) + Prescore, showed a 4 percent increase in scores for the control group, a 22 percent increase for E5, and a 9 percent increase for EIO. Using one-way analysis of variance, no significant differences were found in the prescores between control, E5, or EIO. Significant differences were found between the groups in their postscores (p = 0.0033), and in their raw score differences (p = 0.0335). Results indicated that subjects with high WRAT scores had higher prescores and postscores than subjects with low WRAT scores.

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