Why literacy matters. Links between reading ability and health.
Journal Article (Journal Article;Review)
The ability to understand verbal and written materials is central to modern life. Yet, the US Department of Education estimated that 47% of all adult Americans in 1993 had poor reading and comprehension skills. Analyses of the readability of patient education materials, discharge instructions, and consent forms throughout many specialties within medicine have found almost uniformly that these materials are written at too complex a level for many or most patients. For example, a study of the patient ophthalmic education materials of the American Academy of Ophthalmology by Ebrahimzadeh et al found large amounts of the material exceeded the reading abilities of much of the American adult population. Yet, this is only one small part of understanding the effects of literacy and reading abilities on our patient's health and their use of our increasingly complex health care system.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lee, PP
Published Date
- January 1999
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 117 / 1
Start / End Page
- 100 - 103
PubMed ID
- 9930167
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0003-9950
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1001/archopht.117.1.100
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States