Elexis McBee, Temple Ratcliffe, Katherine Picho, Lambert Schuwirth, Anthony R Artino, Ana Monica Yepes-Rios, Jennifer Masel, Cees van der Vleuten, Steven J Durning
Contextual factors and clinical reasoning: differences in diagnostic and therapeutic reasoning in board certified versus resident physicians
BMC medical education
introduction printed patient educational materials pem often written recommended sixth eighthgrade reading levels resulting decreased client understanding subsequent poor health literacy researchers demonstrated possible improve readability enhance clients understanding health literacy purpose study evaluate readability physical therapy pt pem without modifications improvement methods convenience sample 38 pt pem least 10 sentences obtained large suburban hospital system midwestern region united states original three modified versions exclusion revision combined exclusionrevision words 3 syllables documents assessed simple measure gobbledygook smog document means compared recommended reading levels original document means compared modified conditions results majority documents eighthgrade reading level modified conditions resulted statistically significant reading level decreases combined modified condition decreased eighthgrade level conclusion even modifications pem recommended reading levels additional methods improving readability increased education health literacy healthcare professionals may necessary improve client comprehension