Readability of Pediatric Health Materials for Preventive Dental Care
Author Information
Author(s): Rachel L Hendrickson, Colleen E Huebner, Christine A Riedy
Primary Institution: University of Washington
Hypothesis
This study examined the content and general readability of pediatric oral health education materials for parents of young children.
Conclusion
Pediatric oral health care materials are readily available, yet their quality and readability vary widely.
Supporting Evidence
- Readability of the written texts ranged from 2nd to 9th grade.
- Government publications had an average Flesch-Kincaid grade level of 4.73.
- Commercial publications averaged 8.1 in Flesch-Kincaid grade level.
- Industry published materials read at an average Flesch-Kincaid grade level of 7.4.
- Government sources were significantly lower in readability compared to commercial and industry sources.
Takeaway
This study looked at how easy it is for parents to read dental care materials for kids, and found that some are really hard to understand.
Methodology
Twenty-seven pediatric oral health pamphlets or brochures were analyzed for readability, thoroughness, textual framework, and terminology.
Limitations
The study did not examine all aspects of readability, such as visual formatting and the subjective selection of jargon.
Participant Demographics
Materials were primarily aimed at parents and caregivers of young children.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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