Literacy levels required to understand regularly accessed falls prevention websites aimed at the public
Literacy levels required to understand regularly accessed falls prevention websites aimed at the public
Given the extensive costs to individuals and society, the prevention of falls is a major public health policy concern. Older people are increasingly using the Internet to access health-related materials. However, this information needs to be accessible. One quality indicator of accessibility is readability. No other research has assessed the readability of falls prevention websites.
This study aimed to evaluate the readability of frequently accessed English language falls prevention websites offering advice on falls risk and prevention aimed at the public.
Websites were identified using a search strategy and included according to pre-specified criteria. Twenty-four websites were evaluated using two standardised readability indices: the Gunning FOG Index (FOG) and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG).
The mean FOG reading grade was 9.92 and the mean SMOG reading grade was 9.68.
The most commonly accessed falls websites are not meeting recommended reading levels for consumer healthcare materials. The construction of falls prevention websites which are accessible to all individuals, including those with lower literacy levels, is essential to increase patient autonomy and prevent widening healthcare inequalities.
accidental falls, internet, patient education materials, reading levels, readability, literacy
8-14
Brooks, Charlotte
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Ballinger, Claire
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Nutbeam, Don
352dc808-9160-42e7-8b52-b8cac02ad486
Adams, Jo
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30 December 2013
Brooks, Charlotte
f1772470-2f7d-4738-96d8-01d0c1b6ea3a
Ballinger, Claire
1495742c-90aa-4074-920e-95e6cc3d5380
Nutbeam, Don
352dc808-9160-42e7-8b52-b8cac02ad486
Adams, Jo
6e38b8bb-9467-4585-86e4-14062b02bcba
Brooks, Charlotte, Ballinger, Claire, Nutbeam, Don and Adams, Jo
(2013)
Literacy levels required to understand regularly accessed falls prevention websites aimed at the public.
Journal of Physical Therapy and Health Promotion, 1 (1), .
Abstract
Given the extensive costs to individuals and society, the prevention of falls is a major public health policy concern. Older people are increasingly using the Internet to access health-related materials. However, this information needs to be accessible. One quality indicator of accessibility is readability. No other research has assessed the readability of falls prevention websites.
This study aimed to evaluate the readability of frequently accessed English language falls prevention websites offering advice on falls risk and prevention aimed at the public.
Websites were identified using a search strategy and included according to pre-specified criteria. Twenty-four websites were evaluated using two standardised readability indices: the Gunning FOG Index (FOG) and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG).
The mean FOG reading grade was 9.92 and the mean SMOG reading grade was 9.68.
The most commonly accessed falls websites are not meeting recommended reading levels for consumer healthcare materials. The construction of falls prevention websites which are accessible to all individuals, including those with lower literacy levels, is essential to increase patient autonomy and prevent widening healthcare inequalities.
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Published date: 30 December 2013
Keywords:
accidental falls, internet, patient education materials, reading levels, readability, literacy
Organisations:
Physical & Rehabilitation Health, Professional Practice in Health Sciences, Primary Care & Population Sciences
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 361417
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/361417
PURE UUID: 7e44c52b-d704-4c84-8dfc-d6e65e29d333
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Date deposited: 23 Jan 2014 10:22
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:53
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Contributors
Author:
Claire Ballinger
Author:
Don Nutbeam
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